The Nigerian Labour Congress has described the recent increase in the pump price of petrol as means to exploit Nigerians to enrich few oil marketers in the country therefore call for a downward review of the pump price.
The president of the union, Ayuba Waba accused the Federal Government of protecting the oil marketers instead of defending the citizens.
He said this on Tuesday in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital where he had gone to commiserate with the workers and the family of the Chairman of NLC in Taraba, Peter Gambo, who died recently.
“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 advised that the government should rather regulate the prices of petroleum products so as to fulfill one of its electioneering campaign promises to Nigerians.
“And if you say it is because of the oil price which has also not gone up in the international markets, then this is a double tragedy,” he said.
The NLC President urged all people in power to ensure good governance so as to address inequality and poverty 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.
