The Nigeria Labour Congress may from Friday take up the gauntlet against filling-stations that sell petrol above the new price of N49 per litre.
Already, the Congress has given the Federal Government till Thursday (today) to direct oil marketers to implement the new price announced 10 days ago by the Ibrahim Mantu-led Independent Committee on the Cushioning of the Effects of Fuel Prices.
It alleged that the committee had been hijacked by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
The congress also hinted that it may call another round of strikes if the Federal Government failed to heed its ultimatum.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the acting General-Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Salihu Lukman, said the congress had waited for too long for the government to implement the new petrol price and may embark on picketing to drive home its point.
He said, �Congress demands of the President Obasanjo administration not to toy with the well being of Nigerians by issuing clear directives for the enforcement of the new prices of petroleum products.
�If it fails in its duties and responsibilities to do so, the NLC will issue directives to all its state councils, allies and willing Nigerians to effect the new prices in all fuel stations in the country.�
The NLC accused the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency of double standards for failing to give directives to oil marketers and holding a secret meeting where discriminatory implementation of the new prices was taken.
"The PPPRA last week held a clandestine meeting where they decided that the new prices for petrol, kerosene and diesel will not be applicable in Abuja and the northern parts of the country," he alleged.
Labour had postponed a general strike that was scheduled to begin on October 16 to protest the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products.
The postponement was based on price reduction.
The labour organisation regretted that more than a week after the announcement of the new prices, they have only been implemented half-heartedly.
Lukman said, �Specifically, the price of kerosene was reduced by N10 and petrol by N4 which brought a litre of petrol to N49. But over one week later, there is partial or non-compliance with these new prices.
"In Lagos, many fuel stations sell petrol at between N49.50 and N49.80 per litre rather than N49. In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where petrol was sold at N54.50, the N4 reduction of price announced by the Federal Government should have meant selling for N50.50. Instead, it is being sold for between N53 and N53.50.
"To worsen matters, many petrol stations across the country are tampering with their pumps and defrauding the citizenry. As for Kerosene, it seems to have disappeared from fuel stations and reappeared in the black markets where Nigerians are being nakedly exploited.�
He further also said that , �The NLC had received reports that owing to external dictates, the Federal Government has agreed to impose some officials of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on the Palliative Committee.
He claimed that such a move will compromise the independence of the Committee�.
He added, �The palliatives will become externally driven rather than being tailored to the needs of Nigerians.
"We are concerned that once the IMF/ World Bank and other external bodies get involved in the palliatives issue, unnecessary external loans may be introduced which will increase the debt profile of the country.
"The NLC's position is that the issue of palliative does not need IMF/ World Bank inputs as members of the committee are knowledgeable and competent enough to carry out their tasks."
Lukman who accused the Federal Government of trying to silence the NLC, alleged that the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police had on Tuesday arrested and detained one of the union�s Parliamentary Liaison Officers, Mr. Benson Upah
Upah, according to Lukman, had gone to the command�s office on October 9 to seek the release of the congress� truck when he was arrested.
He said,"The detention of Upah and threats by the police to detain more NLC officials are in addition to the continued police surveillance of the NLC Headquarters.
"The NLC strongly condemns these acts of intimidation by the Federal Government and seizes this opportunity to assure the President Obasanjo administration that such strong arm tactics will not work.
"The congress has instructed the standing legal team of NLC to take the President Obasanjo government to court over the illegal detention of Upah and other related matters."
Other officials of the union present at the press conference were the Vice President, Mr. Fidelis Edeh, Head of Industrial Relations, Mr. Chris Uyot, Head of International Department, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, Head of Information, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, Parliamentary Liaison Officers, Mr. Uche Ekweh and Upah.
