The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday opposed government’s move to reintroduce toll gates on federal highways, increase electricity tariff and pump price of petroleum products.
A communiqué signed by NLC President Ayuba Wabba and the General Secretary Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said the 45 per cent upward increase in electricity tariff with the challenges in the economy would adversely affect the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians and slow down businesses, including manufacturing.
“The distribution companies have continued to exploit Nigerians by estimated billing systems for the majority of consumers, while deliberately refusing to make pre-paid metres available.
“It is clear therefore that the 45% tariff increase is an additional heavy burden on consumers and will have a telling effect on business especially manufacturing”, the statement said.
The NLC said its central working committee resolved to reject the tariff increase and demanded that prepaid metres be made available free to all consumers.
The NLC also said it was disappointed by government’s plan to re-introduce toll gates on our highways and roads, saying the enormous public resources expended in the past on the construction and demolition of toll gates, and the proceeds from toll collection were never effectively deployed for the maintenance of roads, but lined the pockets of favoured collectors.
“Convinced that proceeds from any new toll collections will suffer the same fate, NLC disagrees with the planned re-introduction of toll gates”, it said.
