Labour movement rejects hike in prices of gas, fuel, electricity

…demands reversal of power sector privatization

…To hold Ocuppy Nigeria Phase 11

…Explains why trade unions can no longer be trusted

By Ogundele Olanrewaju

A labour and socialist movement, the People’s Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M), yesterday, rejected outright the hike in the price of gas and the impending hikes in the price of fuel and electricity tariff.

This also came as the group demanded the reversal of the power sector privatization done by the previous administration.

TPAP-M, a coalition of individuals and organisations committed to the emergence and building of a Mass Workers’ Party, and the Socialist Transformation of Nigeria, stated this in a press conference organised at Abope Chamber, Liberty Stadium Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

At the press conference, which was addressed by the its State Chairman, Ibrahim Mohammed and Comrade Rasheedat Adesina , the group also disclosed that it would hold the Occupy Nigeria Phase 11 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the last one and demand the reversal of the current obnoxious policies of the government.

The activists said:”We reject in its totality the hike in the price of Gas, and the impending hikes in the price of fuel and electricity tariff.

“We insist that Nigerians cannot and must not be punished for the failures and incompetence of the ruling class and this regime in ensuring access to affordable energy and adequate security and protection.

”We demand that past and present managements of the NNPC and the four moribund refineries should be indicted, prosecuted and brought to book for their crass incompetence that has resulted into the failure since 2012, at least, to turn around the fortunes of the refineries and make them work at optimum capacity, thus contributing significantly to Nigeria’s inability to acquire adequate domestic refining capacity.

“We demand the complete reversal of the power sector privatisation, and the renationalisation of the power sector, bringing it under the control and management of key stakeholders, including workers, and electricity consumers.

“We reject the continued practice of estimated billing, whereby as of January 2022, only 41 per cent of electricity consumers supplied by the national grid are metered. As The estimated billing system has been shown to be arbitrary, exploitative of citizens who are being ripped off, and fraught with corruption and fraudulent practices; we therefore demand a programme and investment plan that will ensuring the metering of all electricity consumers within the next 12 months. Heads must roll for failure to achieve past targets, while people must be held accountable for failure to meet this new target.

“We insist that any government that is unable to build public refineries and enable adequate domestic refining capacity for refined petroleum products should resign immediately”.

It lamented that, “In the ten years since the January Uprising (Occupy Nigeria) of 2012, the four public refineries have remained moribund, while no new public refineries have been built”.

Hence, the movement revealed that TPAP-M and her allies will organise a week of mobilisations and awareness raising from Monday, 17th of January, culminating in Mass Rallies and Processions to deliver Protest letters and our demands on Friday, 21st of 2022.

“To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Occupy Nigeria – the January Uprising of 2012; and as well to build up momentum towards generalised mass protests across the country to resist the impending hikes in fuel price and electricity tariff, and the unfolding hike if the price of Gas, TPAP-M and her Allies will organise A Public Lecture on Saturday, 15th January 2022

“TPAP-M and her Allies welcome the decision by labour to Resist these price Hikes in the energy sector; and we are through our Central Coordinating Committee already exploring the potential for collaboration between our respective platforms.

“Towards this end we shall participate in, and urge support of all Nigerians the Mass Protests called by Labour for the 27th of January and 1st of February, 2022”, the group added.

The movement also stated that leaders of labour centres could not be trusted to do the work alone, saying they have been heavily compromised.

It said:”The labour leaders have influence and the ruling class is aware of this and has identified the labour lesders and reached out to them. They have been heavily compromised.

“We must oppose the outright deregulation. We are not leaving everything to the leaders of NLC. We are not comfortable with the leadership of labour centres as presently constituted. We are going to mobilize across the country. People are tired and frustrated. We cannot continue like this”.

Also, the Oyo State Secretary of the Movement who also doubles as state Secretary of NLC, Ibrahim Mohammed, said, at present, the union could not be trusted.