Fuel price hike increased poverty, criminality in Nigeria – NLC, TUC
Organized Labour Unions and workers in Bayelsa State, on Wednesday, led a peaceful protest in solidarity with the National leadership, against fuel increase and other alleged anti-people policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, stating that the increase in fuel price is an increase in poverty and criminality.
The Union leaders also threatened to continue the protest until the federal government reverses the price of the premium motor spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol.
The aggrieved workers gathered at the entrance of the state government house, after the peaceful protest that started from Ompadec junction in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Addressing the crowd, state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Barnabas Simon, noted that the removal of the fuel subsidy was hasty with no thought-out plan to cushion the effects on workers, adding that N8,000 cash transfer palliative to twelve thousand households is an insult to Nigerians.
In the document submitted to Governor Diri, the NLC, said the march was for the survival of Nigeria and Nigerians while condemning the increase in school fees which they claim will cause an increase in the number of out-of-school children.
NLC, called for the adoption of CNG as an alternative to fuel, while questioning the protection of subsidy criminals.
The labour unions said, “Permit me to remind the government that it was expected that the organized labour would have been consulted and brought on board the negotiation table to seek ways of ameliorating the effects that would come with subsidy removal on the ordinary Nigerians”
Even after the inauguration of the federal government committee on the matter, the usual foot-dragging became the order of the day. Today every family feels the pang of the harsh policies of the government which has resulted in the astronomical increase in transportation, food, goods and services, tuition fees, and rising costs in accessing quality health care just to name but a few.
