Posted by By FEMI BABAFEMI and PHILIP NWOSU on
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Monday, asked Nigerians to join hands with it to rsist any attempt by the Federal Government to heighten inflation rate through another price increase of petroleum products.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Monday, asked Nigerians to join hands with it to rsist any attempt by the Federal Government to heighten inflation rate through another price increase of petroleum products.
This is coming on the heels of speculation that the Federal Government has approved the sale of a litre of petrol for N80.
"Congress calls on all Nigerians to be prepared to resist any increase and to be prepared to resist any increase and to collectively insist on the right of our people to enjoy stable and fair prices of fuel products," Labour stated in a statement signed by its General Secretary, John Odah.
Labour warned government against increase in fuel price, saying: "The NLC wishes to caution the Federal Government from making moves to increase fuel prices, using half-truths and recycled dogmas bordering on blackmail. There are lessons to be learnt from previous altercations over fuel price increases. Government should be well advised to appreciate that Nigerian people have regarded fuel pricing as a matter over which their will and interests must prevail, not the vested interests of importers, marketers and bureaucrats gratuitously invoking so-called market fundamentals."
The latest warning from the NLC is coming amid concerns that the board of Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) due to meet on Thursday would announce a new price regime for petroleum products.
The agency has been under immense pressure from the Nigerian" National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which had been seeking for a price adjustment to remove the alleged burden of subsidising daily consumption of petrol by about N14 per litre.
Labour leaders however, described the "market fundamentals" being peddled as the basis for the latest price increase as "extremely unhelpful and provocative."
They argued that the imposition of a new regime of prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene on the populace would worsen "the already outrageous inflation, which is making local industries more uncompetitive and making life more unbearable for Nigerians."
Instead of ignoring the economic indicators and the socio-political situation in the country, Labour urged President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop the increase in the overriding interest of public welfare. They said that the way out of the crisis in the petroleum products pricing regime was for the Federal Government to implement the Senator Ibrahim Mantu committee report, which contains workable proposals for absorbing the shocks in the global crude and as well as the exchange rates.
Also lending his support to the position of Labour, the primate of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Dr Emmanuel Alder, said the church condemns the persistent hike in the price of fuel, especially when such increases determine the market price of other commodities.
He spoke through the secretary of the church, Pastor Olusesi Sowande, at a ceremony to flag off the 80th anniversary of the church in Nigeria, noting that the Federal Government must move towards spreading the gains realised from crude oil sales to the people.
The clergy warned President Olusegun Obasanjo against embarking on a third term as being canvassed by some of his advisers, adding that such thought was unconstitutional and immoral.
"We appeal to the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, not to be hookwinked by the hawks in his government who continue to exploit the country advising him not to go in 2007.
"A contemplation to elongate the present government beyond May 29, 2007 would not only be unconstitutional but equally immoral. The goal post cannot be shifted when the game is already past half time."
The primate said the church would join the civil society organisation to ensure that politician at all levels play according to the rules.
While explaining that the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church is undergoing a reform process, the primate said efforts were on to expunge some obnoxious practices by some persons in the church.
"We are working towards sanitising the whole of C&S organisation of the perceived evils and unChristian behaviours and practice," revealed.
As part of the reform process, the church said it would adopt a common order of service, a common name, have one supreme head and common mode of dressing.
He revealed that the Cherubim and Seraphim Crrrhurch named its supreme head as His Eminence A.O. Akinsanya, adding that works are at advanced stage in the church's university which would be named after its founder, St Moses Orimolade.