WE’LL RESIST THE SENATE MOVE – NLC

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.