Agitated by threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on a nationwide strike to compel the Federal Government to rescind its decision on pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) and electricity tariffs’ hikes in the country, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has concluded plans to hold an emergency meeting with governors with a view to averting the strike.
A statement issued by NGF’s Head of Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazaque Bekko-Barkindo, said the emergency meeting was aimed at seeking “ways of settling the rift and finding a mutually agreed soft landing on amicable grounds.
“All governors are expected to attend the meeting as the matter is considered to be of urgent national importance, which needs to be quickly resolved in order not to worsen the already bad situation of Nigerians as caused by the Coronavirus pandemic,” the DG of the Forum Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru said.
“The meeting which is the first NGF emergency virtual teleconference starts at 6 pm,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, NLC has concluded plans to embark on a nationwide protest over the increment in fuel and electricity prices Monday, September 28.
The Organised Labour on September 16 gave the Federal government a two-week ultimatum to reverse the increase on both commodities or face a nationwide protest from September 28.
Already, the FG plans to meet labour leaders Thursday, September 24 to avert the impending strike.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, said the protest action was inevitable since the federal government has refused to reverse the increase in electricity and fuel prices.
“Whereas the entire privatisation process, the entire sector was sold at about N400 billion. We are also surprised that government, within the last four years, injected N1.5 trillion over and above the amount that was used to sell these very important assets.
“And, therefore, NEC came to the conclusion that the entire privatisation process has failed and the electricity hike is actually a process of continued exploitation of Nigerians.”
On the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, Wabba said the move will only make life harder for the average Nigerian.
“On the issue of the refineries and also the increase in the pump price of PMS, these have further eroded the gains of N30,000 minimum wage,” he said.
NLC, TUC and Civil Society Organisations in the country are expected to take part in the showdown for lasting result.
