The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday bemoaned how the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was constantly adjusting the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.
The Labour Union expresses concern that the NNPC must fix the country’s refineries in order to cut down on the importation of refined petroleum products by NNPC into Nigeria.
According to the Deputy President, Joe Ajaero, the Federal Government was briefed during the last meeting on the petrol price matter.
Ajaero disclosed this while reacting to statements by NNPC that the corporation would only adjust petrol price after the Federal Government had concluded negotiations with labour.
NNPC’s spokesperson, Kennie Obateru, had stated on Monday that the price of petrol was not going to be adjusted despite the fluctuations in global crude oil prices until the Federal Government, labour and other stakeholders agree on pricing issues.
“The Federal Government is engaging labour and other stakeholders to agree on modalities and what would be in the best interest of all Nigerians, Obateru said in an interview with the Punch.
“NNPC would not do anything to frustrate this by adjusting its ex-depot price until an amicable agreement is reached.”
But when contacted and asked what was delaying the meeting between labour and government on the petrol price matter, Ajaero replied that the organised labour had made its position known on the matter.
He said, “After our last meeting with them, which was both on electricity tariff and petrol price, we were clear about it and we said go and do some of the stated items and that the refineries must work.
“That is the situation. So if they are talking of endless meeting and that they are meeting with us in view of increasing the pump price of petroleum products when the refineries are not working, then it won’t work.”
He added, “We were clear about it. You must have listened to the president of the congress that we can’t drive the sector based on imports. We are not going to base the pump price of petroleum products on imports. Our refineries must work.
“So ask yourself, have they done that? So what is the essence of saying continuously that we are meeting when our position is clear to them?”