Abuja — The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday declared its resolve to commence within two weeks a series of mass protests nationwide against the Federal Government's decision to fully deregulate the downstream petroleum sector.

Also, it issued a 21-day ultimatum to government to begin negotiations with members of the organised labour over the demand for a new minimum wage or it will be forced to consider other steps for the speedy review of workers' salary.

At the end of an emergency meeting its National Executive Council (NEC) held at Labour House in Abuja, the NLC resolved to take measures to show its displeasure and opposition to the proposed deregulation of the domestic petroleum product market, delayed response to the demand for new a minimum wage as well as the seeming attempt to water down the recommendations of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais-led committee on electoral reforms.

NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Ibrahim Omar, who read out the decisions arrived at the NEC meeting to Labour Correspondents, said the protest rallies to be organised in major cities across the country would be the first step to get the government to abandon the deregulation policy.

He said NEC had set up a committee to work out the detailed strategies for the mass protest, disclosing that within the next 14 days the rallies would begin.

"Where such rallies and protests fail to achieve the objective, the NEC will reconvene to decide on the next course of action," Omar said.

He said: "The NEC in session deliberated on government's announcement that it had decided to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry and reaffirmed its standing rejection of deregulation.

"Consequently, NEC resolved that congress will embark on focused rallies and protests as a first step of getting government to abandon the policy. Where such rallies and protests do not achieve the objective, NEC will reconvene to decide on the next course of action."

The Federal Government had two weeks ago adopted the deregulation policy, saying it could no longer subsidise corruption in the downstream oil sector.

In the communiqué jointly signed by Omar and the congress General-Secretary, Comrade John Odah, NLC also said it was disappointed that almost three months after the national minimum wage review demand was served on government, it is yet to set up the tripartite structure for negotiation.

"NEC resolved that an appropriately worded letter be written to government to demand that the negotiating framework be put in place without further delay. Where government fails to do this within 21 days of the letter, NEC will resolve on the next steps to take to ensure a speedy review of the minimum wage. In the meantime, congress should use rallies and protests to further mobilize Nigerians around this matter," NLC said.