The Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Deacon (Comrade) Lucky Etuokwu said President Mohammadu should have an open door to dialogue with labour to fix a better price for Nigerians over the increment of the pump price of Petroleum products.
Comrade Etuokwu made the remark in his office in Port Harcourt saying while he supports the increment in the price, it should not be sold at the price of government which is N145, rather the federal government should dialogue with labour noting that there is hardship in the various communities.
He stated that because the Labour workforce is also asking for an increase in minimum wage especially now that the price of oil has dropped at the international market there should be a way out where labour leaders should consider government decisions since labour will benefit as they are also asking for minimum wage.
The NUPENG chairman stated that since change is inevitable there should be room to accommodate change which is paramount but blamed government on the price which is high because of the poor masses especially now that there is poverty in the country.
“This is not the right time to increase fuel price, government needs to be stabilized and then everything will be normalized” he said.
Explaining further, he said government need to inform the people and sensitize them before embarking on the increase in pump price.
On the removal of subsidy, he maintained that removal is the ultimate since the cabal milk the country dry and there will be no hiding place for them.
Comrade Etuokwu disagreed with the policy of Federal Government, saying it is not deregulation since they fix the price while advising the government to support massive agriculture and stop dependency on only oil as Brazil, America and Malaysia have done.
On diversion of petroleum product, NUPENG rather those who own the product control its destination.
The labour leader told journalists that he has anchored much within his short stay in office but alleged that both Nigeria Civil Defence and the Nigerian Army is their major challenges as they asked for bribe in both cash and in kind which is include fuel and they molest their drivers mostly.
He tasked the state government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike to provide a parking space for their trucks when waiting to load fuel.
The Army will compel you to cut the seal and ask for fuel which you know is illegal” he concluded. ###
Pius Dukor
