Fuel Price Hike: NLC Launches Indefinite Strike in Akwa Ibom

The NLC has declared an indefinite strike in Akwa Ibom, protesting the rising fuel prices affecting workers and residents.

All Akwa Ibom State civil servants have been ordered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to go on an indefinite strike beginning on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in protest of the state’s increasing fuel prices, which have reached N2,500 per liter.

In support of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) enforced a statewide shutdown of independent gas stations, which prompted the strike action.

The military forces from Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in the oil-rich hamlet of Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, seized fuel-loaded tankers on suspicion of smuggling, which led to the shutdown.

Governor Umo Eno had already promised to step in, telling the people that he would deal with the problem of fuel price manipulation and prosecute those involved.

Nevertheless, the NLC voiced its dissatisfaction with what it perceives as the state government’s inability to move decisively.

According to the union, the state’s common residents have been severely impacted by the prolonged gasoline shortage, which is the reason behind the strike.

The NLC called on the state government to act quickly to end the situation and defend workers’ rights in a news release. They also demanded the formation of a task group to look into the circumstances surrounding military agents’ recent seizure of tankers loaded with fuel.

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“Due to the recent increase in fuel prices, employees have been instructed to stay at home starting Wednesday midnight,” the directive states. The purpose of this action was to express opposition to the rise in fuel prices and their effects on citizens and workers.

“After IPMAN, Akwa Ibom State chapter, issued a directive on September 23, 2024, asking its members to stop providing services to Akwa Ibom as of September 24, the State Administrative Council (SAC) of NLC convened an emergency meeting to discuss the implications of this directive for our employees and citizens. The resolution that was reached was as follows:

“The SAC in session frowned at the short notice given to the already impoverished workers and citizens to re-adjust themselves on the impacts of the withdrawal of services will cause them. The meeting called on the governor to immediately inaugurate the Petroleum Industry Task Force (PITF) to check the excesses going forward, as was promised in His Excellency’s 37th state anniversary speech. “His Excellency, the governor should personally intervene by setting up a team to investigate claims from parties in dispute that necessitated the confiscation of the PMS-loaded trucks and subsequent withdrawal of services.”

“With effect from midnight on September 25, 2024, all workers are directed to withdraw their services and remain at home until this impasse is resolved and the IPMAN strike action is called off to allow citizens to breathe,” the SAC-in-council further notes the terrible but untold hardship that our workers and citizens are going through in attending to their work/businesses.