Reactions have continued to trail the sudden increase in the depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, to N151.56 per litre from N138.62 per litre.
The Former Ekiti State Governor, Fayose, the Peoples Democratic Part and the Nigerian Labour Congress have described the development as very ludicrous, callous while stating that the Nigerian Government by so doing have taken its citizens for granted.
See reactions:
Increase very ludicrous, I warned Nigerians – Fayose
A former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, tweeted that the increase was ludicrous particularly coming at a time the whole world was busy finding solutions to the COVID-19 .
He stated, “Just in case those who led the Save Nigeria protests across Nigeria during Peoples Democratic Party government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan are not aware, I warned.”
On its part, the minority caucus in the House of Representatives condemned the increase in pump price of petrol.
The Minority Leader of the House, Ndidu Elumelu, in a statement on Wednesday and titled, ‘Reps caucus demands halt in N151 fuel price increase,’ described the increment as unacceptable.
He warned that it would result in increase in the already high cost of consumer goods and services and worsen the current economic hardships being suffered by Nigerians.
APC is punishing Nigerians– PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party also rejected the increase in the price of petrol as well as the hike in the electricity tariffs . The main opposition party described the increases as callous and unjustifiable.
This was contained in a statement titled ‘PDP rejects N151 fuel price, hike in electricity tariff…Says APC is punishing Nigerians,’ signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
While demanding an immediate reversal of the prices to avert a national crisis, the party said, “The increase will result in upsurge in costs of goods and services and worsen the biting hardship being faced by Nigerians, who are already impoverished and overburdened by APC-imposed high cost of living in the last five years.”
Nigerians are being taken for granted by this govt – NLC
But the Nigeria Labour Congress said by increasing the fuel pump price three times within three months, the Federal Government was taking Nigerians for granted.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony in view of the development.
He said Nigerians and the NLC were shocked by the price increase, “coming at a time when many Nigerians are passing through very peculiar and precarious times.
“It’s like Nigerians are being taken for a ride; the increase in price of petroleum is like adding salt to injury.
“The increase in price of petroleum has happened now more than three times in three months. Only yesterday (Tuesday), they hiked the tariff of electricity. To compound it, they also reduced the interest rate on savings which affected mostly the poor and the vulnerable.
“While rejecting this in the strongest terms, I think Nigerian government is taking Nigerians for granted.”
The congress noted that the government had betrayed the trust of Nigerians and left them vulnerable to economic ravages.
Discussion about this post