Coalition Of Civil Society Charge Labour Congress On Nationwide Strike Over Hike In Petrol And Electricity Tarrif

The coalition of Civil Society Organisations staged a protest that shut down the premises of the National Secretariat of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ).

News Rain reports that a group known as the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, on Monday staged a protest that shut down the premises of the National Secretariat of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), as they compelled the leadership of the labor union to take action against the hike in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff recently increased by Federal Government.

The protesters that were sighted with various placards inscriptions charged the leadership of the Labour Congress to embark on a total strike and mass Action against the increment of the pump price of petrol and the electricity tariff.

The protesters disrupted both human and vehicular movement and brought the administrative activities in the complex to a halt as the staff was prevented from gaining entry into the building.

While addressing journalists on behalf of the group, Mr. Gerald Katchy said: ”We are here to say no to fuel price increase and hike in electricity tariffs. We want NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, and TUC President to call for a total strike and shutdown of all sectors of the economy until this wicked and insensitive government reverse fuel pump price back to N87”.

He said ” If you are afraid to speak up in the face of bad governance and bad policies you are still a slave. The only way we can be assured that NLC President and other executives have not compromised is for them to take action and call for strike action and shut down the entire country “.

Gerald also stated that the silence by the organized labor as suspicious and wicked adding that the hike would heighten inflation pressure and worsen the living standards of Nigerians.

The protesters also use the protest avenue to demand the reversal of Valued Added Tax ( VAT ) from 7.5 percent to 5 percent.