Textiles workers condemn fuel price hike

The National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has expressed disappointment over fuel price hike by the Federal Government, amidst severe economic hardship facing Nigerians.

The NUTGWN President, John Adaji, said the government’s decision to increase the pump price, when citizens are just coming out of COVID-19 lockdown, indicated leaders were insensitive.

Adaji said, in a statement, yesterday, that “as an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), we hereby, condemn the increase in the pump price of petrol from N121 to between N140.80 and N143.80, as announced by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

“For a government that has commendably rolled out a series of palliatives to cushion COVID-19 effects on the populace, an increase in pump price will undermine such effort towards national recovery.
“The increase will impact on transport cost and cost of living in general. Transport fares have already gone up, following a reduction in a number of passengers by transporters, in compliance with social distancing regulation…Time is not yet ripe for an increase in pump price.
 
“While we commend the National Assembly for halting the increase in electricity tariff planned to commence July 1, we also call on the Federal Government to demonstrate the same sensitivity in the petrol pump price.  It should fix the refineries.
 
“ We will not hesitate to mobilise our members for any possible action by the NLC to compel the Federal Government to revert to the old price of petrol…”