NLC rejects new fuel pump price, calls for dialogue

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the new Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) pump price imposed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, he accused the Federal Government of ambushing residents with the announcement of a new pricing template.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited directed all marketers to modify retail rates to a range of N488 to N555 per litre.

In response to the new development, Ajaero stated that the government cannot talk about deregulation while also regulating the cost of petroleum goods in the same breath.

According to him, this contradicts the principle of letting the free market to function unless the government has usurped, captured, or become market forces.

He referred to the new price template as vexatious, urging the Federal Government to immediately order the NNPC to withdraw the pricing template and allow the parties to conduct free and open conversations.

“We are wor­ried that the government through the NNPC despite the ongoing meeting of stakehold­ers in the oil and gas sector to manage the unilateral but unfortunate announcement by the president to withdraw subsidy on petroleum products, went ahead this morning to an­nounce a new regime of prices under a new pricing template.

“This is an ambush and runs against the spirit and principles of social dialogue which remains the best plat­form available for the resolu­tion of all the issues arising out of the petroleum down-stream sector.

“Government cannot in one breath be talking about dereg­ulation and at the same time fixing the prices of petroleum products. This negates the spirit of allowing the opera­tion of the free market unless the government has as usual usurped, captured or become market forces.

“It is therefore unacceptable and we seriously condemn it. Good faith negotiation is key to reaching agreement. What the government has done is like holding a gun to the head of Nigerian people and bring undue pressure on the leaders thus undermine the dialogue.

“We call on the Federal Government to immediately instruct the NNPC to withdraw this vexatious pricing template to allow free flow of discussions by the parties.

“Nigerians would not accept any manipulations of any kind from any of the parties espe­cially from the representatives of the government.

“Our commitment to this process is buoyed on the fact that all the parties would be committed to ensuring that it is carried out within the am­bits of liberty without undue pressure.

“The release of that tem­plate may not allow us to con­tinue if nothing is done to with­draw it so that the dialogue can continue unhindered. It is clear that government is actually try­ing to scuttle the process.

“As it stands, the Federal Government has become fix­ated on their chosen course of action. Would this help this dialogue? It clearly will not. There must be flexibility to allow concessions and reason­able accommodation that will produce the best result for Ni­gerian people. This is what we all seek at this time”.