Sensitises Members For Industrial Action
The Federal Government must rehabilitate existing refineries, build modular refineries and put in place measures to curb the smuggling of petroleum products across Nigerian borders as preconditions to enlist the support of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
A communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday stated that its members have been put on alert to proceed on strike and protest immediately the subsidy is removed without any additional directive.
TUC stressed that in case the Federal Government fails to fulfill these obligations, it has directed its State Councils and affiliates to commence mobilisation of members for industrial actions against subsidy removal.
The communique urged the Federal Government to consider the biting rising inflation, devaluation of the Naira, unemployment, and general insecurity in the country before removing the subsidy.
It argued that removing the petrol subsidy this year or in the foreseeable years will worsen the social conditions of the Nigerian people, especially the working class.
The communique, which was jointly signed by President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye and Secretary-General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, reads in part: “The proposal by National Economic Council on the final removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as from June 2022 should take into consideration the attendant economic impact on the masses.
There must be assurances that refineries are fully overhauled and establishment of modular refineries encouraged.
“NEC-in-Session insist that Federal Government must ensure that the conditions precedent put forward by the TUC on the deregulation of the downstream such as the revitalisation of existing refineries, establishment of new ones including modular refineries, effective policing of borders to stem the rate of petroleum products smuggling, and the like, are implemented.
“Finally, NEC-in-Session has mandated the Congress, led by the President, to take all necessary steps to ensure that these conditions are met before subsidy is removed. Consequently, NEC-in-Session directs state councils and affiliates to commence mobilisation of members for industrial actions against subsidy removal without government fulfilling conditions precedent.”
The labour centre asked the federal and state governments to put in place measures to ameliorate the suffering of the people through food security and infrastructural development.
It added: “While acknowledging the giant stride in rice production through various interventions of the Buhari administration, the Federal Government should ensure that price of rice in the market become affordable to the common man to justify the rice revolution policy of the administration.
“Federal Government must exhibit political will in its economic diversification programmes with a major focus on agricultural production. The development of the agricultural value chain can create mass employment and put the country on the path of economic recovery and prosperity.”
TUC also called for the review of the privatisation of the power sector since the contracts have expired to ensure viability, job security and effectiveness of the sector.
