A non-governmental organisation, ActionAid Nigeria, has lent its support to the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress over plans to protest hikes in electricity tariffs and price of Premium Motor Spirit in the country.
The organisation faulted the timing of government’s action on the electricity tariffs and pump price of petroleum.
In a press release on Monday, Lola Ayanda, Communications Coordinator, ActionAid Nigeria, quoted the organisation’s Country Director, Ene Obi, as urging the Nigerian government to rescind its decision on the matter.
In a last minute dialogue with the organised labour Sunday night, the planned strike was suspended to pave way for a resolution of all pending demands concerning the hikes.
“While we fault the timing of the increase, we hereby join the labour movement to intensify mobilization of workers and other Nigerians to advise the Federal Government to, in the interest of industrial peace and social order, listen to cries of workers and other suffering Nigerians by rescinding the increases.
“ActionAid Nigeria rejects in its entirety the hike in electricity tariffs by almost 100% as well as the fuel price increase. This decision is premised on the fact that these twin decisions alongside other decisions of government including the increase of VAT by 7.5%, numerous charges by commercial banks on depositors without any explanations will further impoverish Nigerian workers and citizens, including their families and numerous dependants.
“These increases, coming amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is not only ill-timed, but it is also counterproductive. ActionAid Nigeria also observes that the privatization of the electricity sub-sector seven years down the line has not yielded the anticipated positive results. This is because through the privatization process, the entire sector was sold at about N400 billion, we are also surprised that government within the last four years injected N1.5 trillion over and above the amount that accrued from this important asset and Nigerians are still being made to pay more.
“We are also of the opinion that the palliatives being considered to cushion the effects of increase in electricity tariff and fuel price hike will not suffice for the hardship being experienced now by the masses. Secondly, the labour movement does not trust the government because it has not honoured the promises earlier made. Consequently, it is doubtful that the distribution of food items, reduction of taxes on minimum wage and payment of some special allowances, workers’ involvement in ownership of housing programmes through mortgage and distribution of special buses which run on auto gas to public institutions as promised by the leadership of the House of Representative, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila may see the light of the day,” the statement read in part.