The Nigeria Labour Congress has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately instruct NNPC to withdraw the just released pricing template to allow the free flow of discussions by the parties.

NLC president Joe Ajaero made the call in a statement he signed on Wednesday in Abuja.

“We are worried that the government, through the NNPC, despite the ongoing meeting of stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to manage the unilateral but unfortunate announcement by the president to withdraw subsidy on petroleum products, went ahead this morning to announce a new regime of prices under a new pricing template,” said the NLC leader.

Mr Ajaero added, “This is an ambush and runs against the spirit and principles of social dialogue, which remains the best platform available for the resolution of all the issues arising out of the petroleum downstream sector. This negates the spirit of allowing the operation of the free market unless the government has, as usual, usurped, captured or become market forces.”

The labour insisted that it was “unacceptable” and “we seriously condemn it.” 

“Good faith negotiation is key to reaching agreement,” he said.

Mr Ajaero noted that Mr Tinubu’s pronouncement and NNPC’s action “is like holding a gun to the head of Nigerian people,” bringing undue pressure on the leaders, thus undermining the dialogue.

“Our commitment to this process is buoyed by the fact that all the parties would be committed to ensuring that it is carried out within the ambit of liberty without undue pressure,” said Mr Ajaero. “The release of that (NNPCL petrol price) template may not allow us to continue if nothing is done to withdraw it so that the dialogue can continue unhindered. It is clear that the government is actually trying to scuttle the process.”

The NLC president accused Mr Tinubu’s government of being “fixated on their chosen course of action.” 

“Would this help this dialogue? It clearly will not. There must be flexibility to allow concessions and reasonable accommodation that will produce the best result for Nigerian people,” Mr Ajaero said. “This is what we all seek at this time.” 

(NAN)