NLC warns Jonathan against fuel price hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned the Federal Government against any surreptitious move to increase the price of petroleum products in the country.

NLC President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, warned in a statement on Friday that any increase in the price of fuel would lead to a crisis as the congress would call out Nigerians to resist it.

Omar called on President Goodluck Jonathan to focus government attention on the need to frontally tackle the corruption that had held the nation’s oil sector hostage.

He urged the President to ensure the prosecution of those indicted for subsidy fraud and the diversion of N1.7tn funds meant for the industry, rather than venturing into a total removal of petroleum subsidy, which he said would not be resisted.

He faulted the President’s claim that local refining of petroleum products could only be effectively carried out by private sector operators, stressing that the nation’s refineries were effectively managed until they came under a regime of corruption foisted on them by corrupt government officials.

He warned that any increase in the prices of petroleum products would culminate in a crisis that would surpass the last January anti-fuel price hike demonstration.

“The statement by the President claiming that only the removal of fuel subsidy will allow for domestic refining of fuel is highly disturbing. More so, coming at this time of the year, when many see the current fuel scarcity being experienced in most parts of the country as being artificially created,” Omar said.

“With the wave of revelations regarding monumental corruption in the petroleum industry it will be unimaginable to contemplate any other thing than focusing on ridding the industry of the endemic corruption that has become so pervasive in the industry,” Omar added.