NLC Calls for Indefinite Strike in Akwa Ibom Over Fuel Price Surge

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• The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an indefinite strike in Akwa Ibom State starting September 26, 2024, in response to rising fuel prices, which have hit N2,500 per litre.
• This decision follows a nationwide shutdown of independent petrol stations by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) in solidarity with Petroleum Tanker Drivers due to military seizures of fuel tankers over alleged smuggling.
• The NLC criticised Governor Umo Eno for failing to take effective action against fuel price manipulation and demanded the establishment of a task force to investigate the recent confiscations and address the fuel crisis.

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NLC Calls for Indefinite Strike in Akwa Ibom Over Fuel Price Surge

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced an indefinite strike for all civil servants in Akwa Ibom State, starting Thursday, September 26, 2024, in response to the alarming increase in fuel prices, which have reportedly reached N2,500 per litre in the state.

The decision follows a nationwide shutdown of independent petrol stations by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs), sparked by military seizures of fuel-laden tankers in Ibaka, Mbo local government area, due to alleged smuggling.

Governor Umo Eno, according to Politics Nigeria, had previously assured that he would address fuel price manipulation and bring responsible parties to justice. However, the NLC has expressed frustration with the state government’s perceived inaction regarding the fuel crisis, which has severely affected the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.

In a statement, the NLC called on Governor Eno to take immediate steps to resolve the fuel crisis and protect workers’ rights. They demanded the establishment of a task force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent confiscation of fuel tankers.

The directive from the NLC outlined the following:

“Workers have been directed to stay at home starting Wednesday midnight due to the recent fuel price hike. This action is aimed at protesting the increase in fuel prices and its impacts on workers and citizens.”

In light of IPMAN’s directive, the NLC’s State Administrative Council (SAC) convened an emergency session to address the implications of the service withdrawal on the community and made the following resolutions:

1. The governor should establish a team to investigate claims related to the confiscation of the PMS-loaded trucks and the subsequent service withdrawal.
2. The SAC criticised the short notice given to workers and citizens, noting the hardship this would cause.
3. The meeting urged the governor to inaugurate the Petroleum Industry Task Force (PITF) to address future excesses, as promised in his state anniversary speech.

The NLC’s resolution underscores the urgent need for action, stating: “The negative, but untold hardship our workers and citizens are experiencing in their daily lives necessitates this strike until the situation is resolved and the IPMAN strike is called off.”