THISDAYonline

As fuel queues lengthen in major cities across the country due to the much-speculated hike in prices of petroleum products, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has begun consultations with human and civil society organisations to seek a common approach to tackle government.

Also, more organisations have registered their opposition to the impending price hike describing it as another policy measure that would further impoverish the citizens of the country.

Among the organisations include Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Aca-demic Staff Union of Univer-sities (ASUU), Committee of Free Trade Unions (CFTU) and Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).

All the organisation vowed to align with the masses especially with NLC in the battle against the hike, noting that there was no justification for a fresh hike in fuel prices less than three months after the general strike that greeted similar exercise.

NLC started its consultation with the ASUU on how to manage the crisis. ASUU President, Dr Dipo Fashina who spoke to THISDAY last night, said NLC has consulted the university lecturers and both organisations have resolved to engage in all civilised methods to check alleged government insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

"We had a standing pact with NLC and this was reached when we met on this issue. We told NLC to go ahead with its planned meeting with other organisations and brief us of any development."

On how organised labour and civil society organisations will handle the matter, Fashina said that NLC will work out the modalities after appropriate consultations, but noted that the academic staff in the universities will participate in any mass protest and general strike expected to follow the hike.

"Our resolve to participate in mass action is informed by the fact that we are members of the society, we go to the same market, feel the same pains and are subjected to the same hardship by this government. As a progressive organisation, we shall resist any unpopular policy. This is the standing order of the National Executive Council of ASUU and we stand by it," Fashina said.

On its part, PENGASSAN described the planned increase in prices and the deregulation policy as unnecessary for now and urged Nigerians to stand against policies that worsen the already bad situation in the country.

PENGASSAN President, Ogbeifun Louis Brown said yesterday that the economy as well as the citizens cannot stand any further increase. He said that whatever method adopted, whether price hike or full deregulation, the impact is the same.

"Whichever way, this policy will impact negatively on the economy. Our economy today cannot carry complete deregulation. Government has a responsibility to cater for the people. And I think government should do that."

Specifically, Brown noted that deregulation will destroy industries as the cost of energy would make prices of local products uncompetitive. Most worrisome to the oil workers, according to him is that deregulation policy is anchored on fact that local prices of petroleum products will be based on dollar parity. "With the increasing appreciation of dollars, there will be no end to increases in prices of petroleum products."

Brown said that unlike in other parts of the world, where deregulation exists, importers of the products in Nigeria operate like a cartel, and could fix the price at their own will and at any point. "Nigeria has a peculiar case. Unlike in other countries, we have poor road network, no housing facilities and worst, no single price index to determine how prices of these products are arrived at. This policy will definitely impact negatively on the lives of Nigerians.

The oil workers president said that PENGASSAN and its junior staff counterpart NUPENG will meet tomorrow to decide the next action. The Trade Union Congress (TUC), is expected to meet to work-out strategies for resistance.

But while awaiting directives, Brown advised Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands "Nigerians should please rise up and resist unfair policies. We must take our destiny in our hands. Let the people resist any policy that is inimical to their welfare. We should not sit down and watch government drag policy on the people."

He affirmed that nothing had happened within the last three months to warrant any price increase or resort to full scale deregulation.

Similarly, the Committee of Free Trade Unions (CFTU) said that government plan to increase the prices of the most essential product in the country smacks of insensitivity to the yearnings and desires of Nigerians.

CFTU, a group of senior staff association which broke away from TUC over the management of the last fuel strike, said the members were determined to resist the new agenda of government.

The general secretary of the union, Comrade Adodo Didi, said CFTU would join other progressive organisations in the renewed battle to check the excesses of government. "CFTU condemns government insensitivity and irresponsibility. CFTU will join other progressive organisations to fight these monsters in government."

Didi disclosed that CFTU was yet to come to terms with government renewed romance with price hike, insisting that government has a hidden agenda which is not to improve the welfare of the masses. "This is one battle we must fight. The end may not be known, but victory is very certain, because no one man fights a nation and succeeds. Obasanjo cannot take millions of Nigerians for a ride."

The Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) on its part has appealed to Nigerians to reject Federal Government's move noting that any price hike at this stage portends a great calamity for the country.

National publicity secretary of the committee, Funsho Mojuba, urged Obasanjo not to underestimate the capacity of Nigerians to resist such noted display of power.

"We know that it would be a tough battle, but it is a tough work. As we reject the hike, let us also reject the system that makes it possible," Mojuba said.

CDHR threatened to join forces with Labour and others to mobilise Nigerians to resist and reject the planned fuel hike.