NLC to declare national warning strike over electricity tariff
The Nigeria Labour Congress says it will declare a one-day
national warning strike over the refusal of the Federal
Government to reduce the electricity tariff.
NLC President Ayuba Wabba said this while addressing
newsmen during the Central Working Committee meeting of
the congress on Wednesday in Abuja.
On January 29, the NLC led the picketing of electricity
distribution companies (DISCOs) nationwide, the Nigeria
Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the National
Assembly.
The action, aimed at getting the Federal Government to
reverse the 45 per cent tariff hike did not yield the desired
result.
Wabba insisted that the tariff increase was “illegal, unfair,
unjustifiable and an exploitation of the already exploited
Nigerians.
“The privatisation of the power sector was done in bad faith
and it has become obvious that the investors did not have the
capacity to improve power generation and supply in the
country.
“The CWC will agree on a day to embark on the strike,
because several actions promised by the Federal Government
to checkmate the tariff increment have not been
implemented.”
He also noted that the current fuel scarcity in the country had
brought untold hardship to workers and Nigerians as a whole.
“We must, however, make the point that spells of scarcity will
not be acceptable to Labour and other Nigerians because the
human and economic costs are unimaginable.
“We have been patient with this government but this
persistent scarcity and suffering of our people will no longer
be tolerated.”
The NLC president also frowned at the failure of the
government to constitute the board of the Petroleum Products
Pricing Regulatory Agency.
He said that no individual had the right to fix the prices of
petroleum products.
“We demand the constitution of the board of NNPC and
PPPRA. The latter is a 26-man board vested with powers of
regulating prices of petroleum products. Today, it is a one-
man show.”
On the economy, Wabba noted that Nigerians were groaning
under harsh economic conditions.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps
to implement the budget.
“Government must consult more widely and come up with an
enduring solution, Wabba said.”
national warning strike over the refusal of the Federal
Government to reduce the electricity tariff.
NLC President Ayuba Wabba said this while addressing
newsmen during the Central Working Committee meeting of
the congress on Wednesday in Abuja.
On January 29, the NLC led the picketing of electricity
distribution companies (DISCOs) nationwide, the Nigeria
Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the National
Assembly.
The action, aimed at getting the Federal Government to
reverse the 45 per cent tariff hike did not yield the desired
result.
Wabba insisted that the tariff increase was “illegal, unfair,
unjustifiable and an exploitation of the already exploited
Nigerians.
“The privatisation of the power sector was done in bad faith
and it has become obvious that the investors did not have the
capacity to improve power generation and supply in the
country.
“The CWC will agree on a day to embark on the strike,
because several actions promised by the Federal Government
to checkmate the tariff increment have not been
implemented.”
He also noted that the current fuel scarcity in the country had
brought untold hardship to workers and Nigerians as a whole.
“We must, however, make the point that spells of scarcity will
not be acceptable to Labour and other Nigerians because the
human and economic costs are unimaginable.
“We have been patient with this government but this
persistent scarcity and suffering of our people will no longer
be tolerated.”
The NLC president also frowned at the failure of the
government to constitute the board of the Petroleum Products
Pricing Regulatory Agency.
He said that no individual had the right to fix the prices of
petroleum products.
“We demand the constitution of the board of NNPC and
PPPRA. The latter is a 26-man board vested with powers of
regulating prices of petroleum products. Today, it is a one-
man show.”
On the economy, Wabba noted that Nigerians were groaning
under harsh economic conditions.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps
to implement the budget.
“Government must consult more widely and come up with an
enduring solution, Wabba said.”
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