Organised Labour has voiced concerns over the recent petrol price hike, warning the Federal Government of potential public unrest as Nigerians face escalating living costs.
Speaking on Wednesday, Labour leaders cautioned that continuous fuel price increases are “pushing Nigerians to the limit” and urged the government to address the growing frustration spreading across the nation.
According to a Labour representative present at an October 16 meeting with government officials, the continuous price hikes have created an atmosphere of “excruciating hardship and misery.”
In a stark metaphor, the representative added, “Even a goat can bite when pushed to the wall,” underscoring the potential for civil discontent if relief is not provided.
Meanwhile, the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers’ Federation (CANMPEF) noted that the subsidy removal, which led to increased petrol prices, has intensified transportation and production costs, significantly reducing household incomes and consumer purchasing power.
Labour’s concerns were echoed by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), which reported challenges in accessing petrol from the Dangote Refinery.
Despite making N40 billion in payments to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), IPMAN members reportedly face delays in loading products, leading to prolonged distribution timelines.
IPMAN further claimed that fuel prices could be reduced if marketers were granted direct purchasing access to the refinery.
One of the labour leaders, who attended the October 16 meeting with the Federal Government at the office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation, SGF, told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that government officials are gradually pushing the masses to revolt against the establishment.
He said, “We had thought that the Federal Government will halt the incessant increase in the pump price of petrol after our October 16 meeting, where we made the government representatives, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation understand the level of frustration, hunger, misery and general restiveness across the country.
“Sincerely, we thought the government would give the people a breathing space and suspend the increases. The government is testing the patience of Nigerians. I can tell you that government is pushing the citizens to a boiling point.
“This latest increase yesterday (Tuesday, October 29) is one increase too many and a bitter pill to swallow. The increases are pushing the citizens to the limit.
“Government should not be surprised if the people of Nigeria decide to react in an unexpected way that will shock those in government. The people are really angry, frustrated, hopeless and are moving to a point where they may vent their anger in an unusual way that may be difficult to curtail.
“You cannot continue to flog a child and tell him not to cry. Hunger is everywhere, apart from the people in power or their friends and relations.
“The frustration and suffering in the country were also highlighted a few days ago during the meeting of the 19 Northern governors, alongside traditional rulers, among others. Across the country, people are just waiting for something to ignite the fire.
“Increasingly, the government is providing the fuel that will ignite the fire. What is probably left is someone to light the matches. We (Labour) have been urging the government to jettison the anti-people policies and lessen the pain, suffering, hunger, poverty and frustration to no avail.
“We have been cautious, thinking the government will allow common sense, empathy and the reality of the mass suffering of the citizens to drive its actions and inactions. Unfortunately, the reverse has been the case. It is getting to the time when the bubble will burst. Even a goat can bite when pushed to the wall.”
Similarly, addressing the 8th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, yesterday in Abuja, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, said, “Today, the nation’s macro-economic indices are all heading down south without any letting.
“Petrol prices have gone through the roof and are nearly impossible for an average Nigerian to afford. Transportation has become difficult, leading to levels of food scarcity and hunger never seen in the country before now.
“That unfortunately has become our lot and that has become what majority of Nigerians look up to us to ameliorate.
“We need your unity and your strength if we are to creatively engage these forces and make governance work for the greater number of workers and people. As it is today, our choices are very limited. It is either we find a way to collectively overcome the forces that are bent on keeping us down as a people or we completely surrender to them and wallow in hopelessness.
“The forces of neo-liberalism must be challenged and the trade union movement remains the only viable force in Nigeria and in the world that can creatively engage it and mitigate its stranglehold on our nation.
“We must offer strong counterpoise to their prebendal logic and proffer newer arguments to triumph over their quest for profit at the detriment of the social will. It is only by remaining strong and united that we can hope to achieve that.
“It is sad but we cannot afford to keep our public refineries shut while still importing refined petroleum products. We demand a review of our salaries instead of its eroded values. We must together demand the re-commissioning of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries in keeping with the agreement we had with the Federal Government on October 15, 2023.”