Unions call general strike to protest fuel price hike

Nigerian trade unions have called an indefinite general strike which is due to begin on Monday unless the government reverses a hefty increases in fuel prices before then. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) trade union movement decided to go ahead with the stoppage at a meeting on Tuesday night. It said the price increases of over 50 percent were unacceptable and the government's explanation for them was "untenable". "The arguments are worn out and have been recycled by previous regimes and this government," Adams Oshiomhole, NLC president, said in a statement. The NLC gave President Olusegun Obasanjo an ultimatum to withdraw the price increases by Sunday or face a crippling general strike and mass protests. "Workers should by Monday June 30 commence an indefinite strike action," it directed. The government last week increased petrol prices by 54 per cent to eliminate subsidies on fuel and curb the smuggling of Nigerian petroleum products to neighbouring countries where prices are much higher. The smuggling has been partly responsible for chronic fuel shortages in Nigeria. However at the new price of 40 naira (30 US cents) a litre, Nigerian petrol remains cheap by international standards. The government also raised diesel and kerosene prices by more than 50 percent. Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer and low fuel prices are widely seen as one of the few benefits that acrue to the country's 120 million people, 70 percent of whom live below the poverty line. Senior officials in a series of corrupt governments are reputed to have embezzled and squandered billions of Nigeria's petro-dollars over the past three decades. Previous steep rises in the price of petrol have triggered nationwide riots. This time, only isolated street protests have been reported so far. The NLC threatened to call a general strike to protest at fuel price increases last year, but it backed down under government pressure. This time, however, the NLC has expressed the resolve to follow through with the protest which is backed by two powerful oil unions. They have the capacity to shut down Nigeria's vital oil exports. "Congress believes that this is the only way democratic governance will reflect the popular will of Nigerians," the NLC statement said.