NLC declares nationwide protest over petrol, electricity price hike
The protest is scheduled to hold on September 28, days before Nigeria marks its 60th Independence Day.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it would not be silent over the recent increase in the prices of petrol and electricity.
The price of petrol increased from about N145 to about N161 per litre following President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to stop subsidy payments on the product. There are fears the price could rise further.
The federal government also said it could no longer afford to subsidise electricity for Nigerians, many of whom are still reeling from the economic hardship imposed by coronavirus lockdowns.
Electricity tariff increased from N30.23 to about N62.33 per kWh since the government move.
The NLC has, however, said that it was not buying the “excuses”, and vowed to storm the streets in protest following the government’s failure to reverse the decision within two weeks Labour demanded.
The protest is scheduled to hold on September 28, days before Nigeria marks its 60th Independence Day.
It is unclear if the NLC would embark on a warning or an indefinite strike to press home its demands.
NLC’s impending protest was proposed by the body’s Central Working Committee (CWC) and endorsed by its National Executive Council (NEC) on Tuesday.
