US LABOUR UNION BLAST FG

At a time the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is suspending its strike over the increment in the pump price of petrol, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, AFL–CIO, has slammed the Nigerian government for jerking up the price from N86.50 to N145 per litre.

It stated that by the present increase, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has done a great disservice to Nigerians.

The United States’ national trade union center, in a solidarity letter to the NLC, maintained that the timing was wrong because of the present high cost of living in Nigeria, noting that any increase in the price of commodities such as petroleum will result in workers falling further behind while economic inequality rapidly increases.

The letter signed by its Director of International Department, Cathy Feingol disclosed that the twelve and a half million members of the AFL-CIO, supported the national strike called by the NLC to protect Nigerian workers and to ensure that their voices are included in discussions that impact them directly.

It added, “The NLC is embarking upon a national strike in response to the gov¬ernment’s unilateral decision to increase the price of petroleum products by close to 50%. This increase combined with the weakness of the national currency, the naira, will devastate working people and the poor who rely on subsidized petroleum, a benefit that will be removed by the government.

“The Nigeria labor movement supports reform of the entire energy sector, but not at the expense of working families,” the America union said, stressing that though there are tough decisions that need to be made by the government, but the timing is important.

“President Buhari made a pledge to the Nigerian people to main¬tain the fuel subsidy if elected. The labor movement intends to ensure that the administration honors his promise. The AFL-CIO stands with you on this important day,” the federation stated.