President
of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba told our correspondent on
phone that the organised labour will resist the move.
He
said “The call is condemnable and we would resist it. How can they add to the
economic burden of Nigerians? Most people cannot afford to pay their bills as
we speak and they are talking of increasing fuel price.
“Rather
they should cut their bogus budget and expenditure to fund whatever they call
it. We as an organized labour would not allow such an action to sail
through because it is anti people. Increasing fuel price in whatever form will
affect so many things and we say no to it. Government should be sensitive to
the plight of the people in any decision making process because people come
first in any issue”
We’ve
no business with levy - PPPRA
The
Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which is responsible for
fixing prices of petrol products said it is not aware or carried along in the
process leading up to the conclusion of the committee’s report.
Two
officials of the PPPRA, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said as an
executive arm of government the issue in question was a legislative matter
which it cannot question.
“Of
course if we have input to make we will do that but I am not sure PPPRA was
invited to be part of the process,” one official said.
“PPPRA
does not have anything against it. It is a government agency and will do
everything government wants. But they will have problem with labour-PENGASSAN
and NLC,” another official said adding “we have told them to do a public
hearing for everybody to come and present a memoranda; that has not been done.”
CSO
kicks against moves
The
Good Governance Team (GGT) said the proposed increase in the pump prices of
fuel in the country is an aberration.
The
Convener of GGT, Tunde Salman told Daily Trust last night that Nigeria will not
make headway with continuous importation of petroleum products.
“Without
a turn around and increasing our local refinery capacity, and in as much as we
keep importing petrol, Nigerians will be blackmailed with hike in price of
petroleum products. The Senate would help the economy better by ensure we
achieve self-sufficiency in local refinery capacity rather another increase in
fuel price,” Salman said.
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