The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Waba, has called for the downward review of the current price of petroleum products in the country.
Waba made the call on Tuesday while responding to questions from newsmen in Jalingo, capital of Taraba State.
He described the recent increment in pump price of petrol as a means to exploit Nigerians to enrich few oil marketers.
The labour leader added that with the increase, the Federal government is aiding the oil marketers to enrich themselves at the detriment of the entire Nigerian population.
He stressed that the new pump price is not necessary as the price of crude oil in the international markets has not increased in the recent times, which is one of the reasons given by the oil marketers.
”Essentially, it is about the exploitation of Nigerians as the Federal government seems to be protecting the oil marketers rather than defending the citizens.”
He said that the government should not leave control of this very important commodity to oil marketers because they said that the exchange rate had gone up.
He said that rather the government should regulate the prices of petroleum products so as to fulfill one of its electioneering to Nigerians.
“And if you say it is because of oil price which has also not gone up in the international markets then this is double tragedy,” he said.
The NLC President also called for good governance and urged all people in power to ensure good governance in order to address the inequality and poverty rate in the country.
”We need good governance in Nigeria; that is why all of us need to come together to reject some of these obnoxious policies that are meant to exploit Nigerians.
“We will continue to engage the government and very soon, we will roll out plans and actions that we will do to ensure that the right things are done,” he said.
Wabba was in Jalingo to commiserate with the workers and the family of the Chairman of NLC in Taraba, Mr. Peter Gambo, who died recently.
– NAN
