30 December 2007
Lagos — President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Abdulwaheed Omar yesterday restated the labour union's opposition to plans by the Federal Government to increase the price of petroleum products in 2008.
He has, therefore, called on government to begin negotiations with the labour congress early next year with a view to sustaining the current price levels beyond the price stipulated in the June 2007 agreement.
Omar, whose statement was contained in the organisation's New Year statement entitled, "For a New Vision and New Dynamism in the Year 2008, said the nation must be spared the vicious cycle of increase in prices of petroleum products.
He said, "the NLC appeals again to the Federal Government to ensure that early enough in the year 2008, government and labour should begin engagement with a view to sustaining (at the minimum) the current price levels well beyond the period stipulated in the June 2007 agreement".
"In view of the escalating poverty level and the desperate state of productive activities, Labour will insist that there is no basis for price increase".
"However, a matter arising from that agreement, which the government needs to urgently address, is the question of domestic refining of petroleum products."
"We have a subsisting understanding with the Federal Government about the need for constructive partnership on local refining of petroleum products".
The NLC commended the steps and efforts of president Umaru Yar'Adua for reversing what it described as some fraudulent privatisation and other transactions by the previous administration.
"With More and more disclosures of abuse of power and sheer criminality in the transfer of public assets to fronts and cronies, it is obvious that the country had been massively ripped off in the last eight years.
Therefore, part of the challenge of the year 2008 will be for Mr. President to institute a high-calibre judicial commission of inquiring into the transfer of public assets through the many fraudulent privatisations, concessionings and liquidations under the last administration".
On the plans to merge the EFCC with the other anti-graft agencies, it has resolved to oppose any attempt to whittle down its effectiveness through the merger alluded to by the Attorney General.
"We are convinced that with the favourable policy environment, the EFCC and others will be able to effectively execute their mandate", he added.On the AFRICOM, the body called on Nigerians, including members of the National Council of State, to oppose the Nigerian hosting of the America's African Command (AFRICOM), insisting that the government has no right to turn Nigeria into a client or satellite states to further American expansionist military and economic agenda.
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