TheCable

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has criticised  the proposed N5 increse in  petrol price by the senate, describing it as a huge joke.

Speaking in Lagos on Saturday, Tokunbo Korodo, south-west chairman of the union, said the proposal was ill-timed and also lacked sensitivity to the current economic hardships facing Nigerians.

Korodo questioned how the the senate could think of another fuel price increase when Nigerians were “striving to
cope with the current harsh economic realities”.

He warned that if the bill was not disregarded, it will be resisted by organised labour.

“How can the senate propose such a bill at this particular period when poor Nigerians can hardly feed themselves?” Korodo asked.

“The prices of foodstuff have tripled in the market, while workers’ salary has not been increased.”

The proposed law, which is entitled ‘National Roads Bill’, was presented by Kabiru Gaya, chairman, senate committee on works.

The bill recommended that Nigerians should pay a N5 levy on each litre of petroleum product imported into the country.

But Korodo said the deduction of 0.5 per cent on fares paid by passengers travelling on interstate roads to commercial mass transit operators as well as the return of toll gates on federal roads, among others.

“Just a year ago, the pump price of petrol was increased from N87 to N145 per litre and Nigerians accepted the increment because of the sincerity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,” Korodo said.

“Any attempt to adjust the price of petrol under any guise will be resisted by the organised labour.”

He called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the leadership of the senate to step down the bill.