Fuel Price Hike: Former APC Spokesman Asks NLC, TUC Others To Shutdown Activities

Timi Frank, a former spokesperson of the All  Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and others to shut down the country over the recent hike of fuel price and the increase of electricity tariff.

Making this call in a statement on Thursday, Frank asked the National Assembly to have an emergency sitting to urgently intervene on behalf on Nigerians who elected them, just like the 7th National assembly did in 2012 when fuel was increased from N65.00 to N140.00 by the administration of ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Strongly condemning the increase in electricity tariff and fuel price Timi frank urged  NLC, TUC, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigerian (PENGASSAN), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Median Association (NMA), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other Civil Society Organization (CSOs), to rise up and defend the weak, poor and helpless masses in the face of this massive and unbearable onslaught against their very being.

Read Also: Fuel Price Hike: Buhari Taking Nigerians For Granted - NLC

“The NLC has rejected the evil price increase through a statement, it is now time for the Ayuba Wabba leadership of the Union to match their words with action on the streets just like ex-NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, did in collaboration with the Change Nigeria Group (CNG) in 2012,” Frank said.

Explaining that the move by the Federal government was very untenable especially at a time when crude oil prices have plummeted internationally and while the majority of Nigerians who are not metered are languishing under the yoke of estimated billing respectively, Frank likened the price increment to "removing economic ventilators from the majority of Nigerians on life support due to COV-poverty".

“The action of the Federal Government in hiking the prices of essentials goods and services, like fuel and electricity, is tantamount to removing economic ventilators from majority of Nigerians on life support due to COV-poverty.

“This is manifestly anti-God, anti-people, unacceptable, provocative, oppressive, insensitive, wicked, satanic and a total negation of the social contract between a people and its Government,” Frank declared.

Further Challenging the leadership of President Buhari to increase the minimum wage to N100,000.00 to mitigate its induced rise in the cost of living, the former spokesperson asked the president to cut the cost of governance by 50 percent to help manage resources.

Lamenting  over the refusal of the Federal Government to follow international practice by giving out stimulus packages to Nigerians in the heat of hardship caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Frank said:

“The duty of Government is to shield its people, especially the poor and vulnerable population, from the harsh effects of market forces and not to heap pain and anguish on them under the guise of full deregulation.

“Why have they chosen to increase the burdens of Nigerians rather than lighten them?
Why have they chosen to give Nigerians stones instead of bread? Why have they chosen to give Nigerians snakes instead of fish?

“It is dangerous for the Federal Government to aid a tiny cabal in preying on the people in order to satisfy their ostentatious cravings,” Frank said.

He further warned the federal government to be mindful of the political disorder in Mali and Sudan caused by similar anti-people policies and actions.