Nigeria’s labour unions have threatened to start protests on Wednesday if the federal government fails to cancel the hiked petrol prices by Tuesday midnight.
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade unions Congress called for the strike to shut down Nigeria which will also cover airports, seaports and banks.
The government of Nigeria announced a 67 percent increase in petrol prices last week. Many Nigerians rely on gasoline for electricity generation and transport; however the West African nation has an economic crisis due to the slump in oil prices.
Nigerians have enjoyed oil subsidies as a benefit of living in Africa’s top oil producer but due to neglect of refineries Nigeria imports most of its gasoline.
“Nigerian are therefore advised to stock sufficient food items that will last for a while for the prosecution of the current struggle against (a) neo-liberal agenda in Nigeria,” the unions said in a statement
Nigeria made a move to end fuel subsidies in 2012 and doubled prices but was met with protests that led the government to reinstate the subsidy. Nigeria’s government didn’t allocate any money for subsidies due to lack of finances. Nigeria has always set a limit for fuel prices, paying importers the extra expenses to maintain low prices.
“The government has allowed the exchange rate to deteriorate to N365 to the US dollar; has introduced stamp duty on deposit in banks; has pronounced a 100 per cent increase in VAT; has banned the importation of ‘I better pass my neighbour’ generators which serves mainly the poor” said Mr. Joe Ajaero, Factional president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to The Nation
