As TUC gives FG May 18 ultimatum
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Friday commended the Federal Government for removing subsidy on petrol.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a National Executive Council of PENGASSAN and NUPENG in Calabar, Cross River.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Francis Olabode-Johnson, President of PENGASSAN and his counterpart of NUPENG, Dr Igwe Achese.
Welcoming the petrol price increase, the workers stated that the measure would benefit Nigerians in the nearest future.
“After a joint meeting of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, we hereby applaud the Federal Government for the removal of subsidy to create way for private participation in the oil and gas sector.
“We will seek negotiation with the Federal Government in other to monitor the proceeds that would accrue from the price increase.
“It is not all about price increase; we must monitor the proceeds and ensure that it is being re-invested into critical sectors of the economy.
“We will watch with keen interest how the money that would accrue from the increase would be implemented to better the lives of Nigerians,’’ the communiqué said.
According to it, Nigerians have been yearning for the removal of subsidy for many years now but to no avail.
“The price is the secondary issue; the Federal Government has brought up a policy that would stop money from entering into the hands of few individuals.
“The subsidy removal is a welcome development; we must not mortgage our economy into the hands of few selfish individuals,’’ the workers said.
They said that they would push for a new minimum wage demand of N90, 000, given the new development.
“With the new pump price of N145 per litre, government must speed up the negotiation process for a new minimum wage of N90, 000 to cushion the effect of the envisaged inflation.
“ As the price of fuel increases, there should also be an increment in workers’ salary as the old minimum wage of N18, 000 has no effect again,’’ they stated.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Friday, gave the Federal Government till May 18, to invite labour leaders to discuss the recent increase in the price of premium motor spirit to avoid nationwide strike.
TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama gave the ultimatum after its National Executive Council meeting (NEC) in Lagos.
”The NEC in session has given the government till Wednesday May 18, to invite the leadership of labour for discussion aimed at determining the appropriate way forward,” Kaigama said.
He said that the NEC rejected the increase in price and urged the government to revert to the old price.
He said the leadership of TUC would interface with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Civil Societies.
He said the union would work out plans that would be put in place to protest the increase in the price if the government failed to meet the deadline.
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