Connect with us

News

NUPENG to oppose fuel subsidy removal, unless…

Published

on

Increase in petrol price inevitable –Rewane

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said the group won’t back the removal of fuel subsidy if there are no functioning refineries in the count.

In a statement released on Thursday after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, the union expressed deep concerns over the failure of the Federal Government in taking the advice from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Recall that FG has spoken about removing the fuel subsidy before the end of the second quarter, while the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, vowed to remove it if President Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t.

NUPENG said labour had warned that the deregulation of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) should not be predicated on the importation of the product because of all the obvious negative impacts on the socio-economic life of the people and nation in general.

The union said the government promised to have three national refineries ready for operation before contemplating the removal of the subsidy, however, it has failed to achieve that.

Read also:NUPENG extends strike notice by seven days

“NEC-in-Council also examined the recurrent discussions for the removal of subsidy from the Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, and expresses deep concerns over the failure of the Federal Government to do the needful as advised by Organised Labour that deregulation of the PMS should not be predicated on importation of the product because of all the obvious negative impacts on the socio-economic life of the people and nation in general,” a statement signed by the President Prince Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale, reads.

NUPENG also stated that: “The Council-in-session expressed disappointment in the failure of the government to deliver on its promises of making the three national refineries work before contemplating the removal of the subsidy on this very important economic item in view of the enormous implication and the impact on the economic activities and considering the socio-economic importance of PMS to ordinary Nigerians.

“The NEC-in-session reaffirms that in as much as our Union is not averse to the removal of PMS subsidy, the Federal Government must ensure that our local refineries are put into full operation before such a major policy decision is taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now