The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday, May 14, 2016 gave a 96-hour ultimatum to the federal government to reverse to the old fuel price or face the risk of shutting down the Nigerian economy on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.
Ayuba Wahab, the NLC president, said if the federal government fails to rescind its decision by Tuesday midnight, all Nigerian workers would ground the economy as all affiliate members of the NLC would proceed on indefinite strike.
The strike action is being considered by the NLC following government’s unwillingness to consider the plight of the ordinary Nigerian and reverse fuel price to N86, the old selling price per litre.
The NLC had argued that the increment would bring untold hardship to the average Nigerian, insisting that its stand remains the old price undermining the explanation of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Although the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have supported federal government’s move, the NLC said its decision was the ultimate and it affects all affiliate unions.
Wabba therefore advised Nigerians to stock sufficient food items for their use as they would not be able to say how long the protest would last.
