“RSM Urges NLC and TUC to Mobilize Nigerian Workers for Nationwide Strikes and Protests Against Fuel Price Hike”
The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) has urged the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to mobilize Nigerian workers to resist what it describes as the “anti-people policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.”
The movement expressed strong condemnation of the recent fuel price hike, which marks the third increase in less than a year. The RSM noted that these frequent hikes are worsening the economic hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians. In a statement issued on Sunday, RSM Publicity Secretary, Comrade Salako Kayode, emphasized that the new minimum wage, already insufficient, has been eroded by inflation. He called on the NLC and TUC to announce dates for mass strike actions and protests in response.
RSM also called for the establishment of working people’s defense committees across various sectors to resist government intimidation. The group referenced reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has fully deregulated the downstream sector, leading to petrol prices ranging from N998 per litre in Lagos to N1,100 per litre in Abuja and other regions. The movement argued that this increase reaffirms its belief that the Tinubu-led regime and the ruling APC are incapable of addressing the country’s mounting challenges.
The statement further condemned the administration’s policies, accusing them of pushing millions of Nigerians into abject poverty. RSM demanded an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike, stating that Nigeria, with its abundant crude oil resources, should not be subjected to such increases. The movement also criticized the failure to repair the nation’s four refineries, describing efforts to do so as opportunities for looting.
Furthermore, RSM pointed out that despite the newly built Dangote Refinery, fuel prices have continued to rise, which it claims reveals a “gang-up” against Nigerians for profit. The organization accused the government of deceiving the public with false promises that the Dangote refinery would lead to lower fuel prices.
The RSM described the government’s actions as “wickedness” and a display of total disregard for the Nigerian people. The group declared that Nigerians must not allow themselves to be treated as a conquered people, urging workers to fight back against the government’s exploitative policies.
The statement concluded by calling on the NLC and TUC to take immediate action, accusing them of paying lip service to the struggles of Nigerian workers. It reiterated the need for mass strikes and protests, and the formation of defense committees to resist government intimidation.
In related news, Fusion Chronicles Nigeria reported on Wednesday that the NNPCL has raised fuel prices to over N1,000 per litre across different regions. Meanwhile, the NLC has scheduled its National Executive Council meeting for next week to determine its next course of action.
