THE Trade Union Congress (TUC), has charged the Federal Government to first fix existing refineries, establish new ones including modular refineries, and ensure effective policing of borders to stem the rate of petroleum products smuggling, before removing subsidy from Premium Motor Spirit.
TUC further said should the Federal Government fail to meet these conditions before removing subsidy, an industrial action by its teeming members who have already been directed through State Councils and affiliates to mobilise, would ground economic activities across the country.
Recall that the National Economic Council, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has deferred decision on subsidy removal till June.
However, in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the TUC asked the Federal Government to take into consideration the attendant economic impact of final subsidy removal on the masses.
In a communique jointly signed by President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye and Secretary-General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the congress said, “The proposal by the National Economic Council on the final removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as from June 2022 should take into consideration the attendant economic impact on the masses. There must be assurances that refineries are fully overhauled and establishment of modular refineries encouraged.
“NEC-in-session insists that Federal Government must ensure that the conditions precedent put forward by the TUC on the deregulation of the downstream such as; the revitalisation of existing refineries, establishment of new ones including modular refineries, effective policing of borders to stem the rate of petroleum products smuggling, etc,.are implemented.
“Finally, NEC-in-session has mandated the congress led by the President to take all necessary steps to ensure that these conditions are met before subsidy is removed. Consequently, NEC-in-session directs State Councils and affiliates to commence mobilisation of members for industrial actions against subsidy removal without the government fulfilling conditions precedent.”
The congress also asked the federal and state governments to put in place measures to ameliorate the suffering of the people through food security and infrastructural development.
“While acknowledging the giant stride in rice production through various interventions of the Buhari’s administration, the Federal Government should ensure that the price of rice in the market becomes affordable to the common man in order to justify the rice revolution policy of the administration.
“The Federal Government must exhibit political will in its economic diversification programmes with major focus on agricultural production. The development of the agricultural value chain can create mass employment and put the country on the path of economic recovery and prosperity,” the communique read.
It also said the privatisation of the power sector should be reviewed since the contracts have expired to ensure viability, job security and effectiveness of the sector.
The TUC urged its members nationwide to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and ensure active participation in the democratic process ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Members are also urged to support the political commission of the congress in creating groundswell awareness for providing leadership alternatives that deliver on democratic dividends and transformative governance to the people.”
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