The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all civil servants to stop work and withdraw their services starting Thursday, September 26, 2024, due to the unbearable hardship caused by the sharp rise in fuel prices, which have skyrocketed to N2,500 per litre.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), in solidarity with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs), enforced the closure of most independent petrol stations on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
This action has driven fuel prices even higher and led to a more than 200 percent increase in transport fares.
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Comrade Francis Udoyen, the state IPMAN chairman, explained that the association joined the strike in solidarity after military operatives from Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) seized fuel-loaded tankers in Ibaka, Mbo local government area, over alleged smuggling activities.
The governor had during the 37th state creation anniversary speech on Monday, September 23, 2024, vowed intervention, saying; “let me warn those who are selling gasoline above the approved price that the government will not tolerate such unpatriotic actions. We will soon set up a task force to ensure that those engaging in this practice are brought to book.”
The state NLC chairman, Comrade Sunny James, voiced his frustration that 48 hours after the governor’s announcement, no concrete action had been taken to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
As public discontent grew, he convened an emergency meeting of the State Administrative Council (SAC), where the decision to embark on a strike was made as a last resort.
The resolutions transmitted to the governor and the head of civil service (HoCS) entitled; “Withdrawal of Service,” reads:
“Workers have been directed to stay at home starting Wednesday midnight due to the recent fuel price hike. This action aimed at protesting the increase in fuel price and its impacts on the likelihood of workers and citizens.
“Following the directive of IPMAN, Akwa Ibom State chapter dated September, 23rd, 2024, for their members to withdraw services to Akwa Ibom effective September 24, the State Administrative Council (SAC) of NLC, met at an emergency session to discuss on the impacts arising from this directive to our workers and citizens and do resolved as follows:
“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.
“The SAC in session frowned at the short notice given 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.
“The SAC – in – council further note the negative, but untold hardship our workers and citizens are going through in attending to their work/businesses and hereby directs all workers to withdraw their services and stay at home effective midnight of September 25, 2024, until this impasse is resolved and the strike action of IPMAN called off to enable citizens breath.”
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