The battle line seems to have been drawn between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) which has given the Government a 14-day ultimatum to reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff and fuel price or face a “total shutdown of the country’s economy”.
This is even as the Federal Government appears unyielding to reverse the hike in electricity tariffs and fuel pump price despite earlier pressures from some human rights activists, opposition parties and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANs) which pocket protests across the nation was subdued by government security operatives.
Already, the NLC has activated its mass mobilization strategies to galvanize citizens for the nationwide scheduled protests at the expiry of the ultimatum should the Federal government remain adamant.
Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, disclosed the two week ultimatum given to the Government while addressing newsmen at the end of the body’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that workers and Nigerians were disappointment that government decided to increase the cost of both items.
“We are surprised that at a time other countries across the world are giving palliatives to their citizens to cushion the effect of COVID-19, Nigerians are asked to pay more for fuel and electricity,” he said.
He said that the CWC meeting focused on the two challenges and concluded that the COVID-19 situation had given Nigerians enough suffering.
“A hike, as announced by government, has reduced the purchasing power of Nigerians and Nigerian workers.
“It has also brought about a high cost of goods and services which has completely eroded the gains of the N30,000 minimum wage.
“The CWC and the National Executive Council (NEC) also took reports of the meeting that took place between the Federal Government and organised labour where NLC was represented by 14 of its leaders.
“After examining the outcome of the meeting, we resolved to issue a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse the fuel price hike or face industrial action.
“In furtherance to this, the CWC also resolved to convene a meeting of the NEC in line with our constitution, on Sept. 22, 2020.
“This is to also give effect to the decision because the proposed action will commence on Monday, September 28, 2020 `if the issues are not addressed.”
Wabba said that the CWC would also mobilise its members, civil society allies and other social partners to try to resist the policies as it had driven many into poverty.
The NLC president said that the CWC members also shared their aims and experiences arising from the exploitative nature of the recent policies of government.
He added that the declining economic power was evident among many as the N30,000 minimum wage could not actually pay for electricity in many homes.
“The experience we have here is that somebody actually loaded a credit of N30,000 and it could not take him two weeks. That is the general experience all over the country.
“The hike is one decision that is biting every worker and every family. I think it is a decision that certainly requires reversion,” he said. (NAN with OPTIMUM TIMES additional report )
