The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Workers (NUPENG) has criticised the proposed N5
increse in petrol price by the senate , describing it as a
huge joke.
Speaking in Lagos on Saturday, Tokunbo Korodo,
south-west chairman of the union, said the proposal
was ill-timed and also lacked sensitivity to the current
economic hardships facing Nigerians.
Korodo questioned how the the senate could think of
another fuel price increase when Nigerians were
“striving to
cope with the current harsh economic realities”.
He warned that if the bill was not disregarded, it will be
resisted by organised labour.
“How can the senate propose such a bill at this
particular period when poor Nigerians can hardly feed
themselves?” Korodo asked.
“The prices of foodstuff have tripled in the market,
while workers’ salary has not been increased.”
The proposed law, which is entitled ‘National Roads
Bill’, was presented by Kabiru Gaya, chairman, senate
committee on works.
The bill recommended that Nigerians should pay a N5
levy on each litre of petroleum product imported into
the country.
But Korodo said the deduction of 0.5 per cent on fares
paid by passengers travelling on interstate roads to
commercial mass transit operators as well as the
return of toll gates on federal roads, among others.
“Just a year ago, the pump price of petrol was
increased from N87 to N145 per litre and Nigerians
accepted the increment because of the sincerity of
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,”
Korodo said.
“Any attempt to adjust the price of petrol under any
guise will be resisted by the organised labour.”
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the
leadership of the senate to step down the bill.
TheCable
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