The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), have condemned the increase in the fuel pump price in Nigeria, describing the AlI Progressive Congress (APC) led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as insensitive.
As a result of the development, NANS issued a notification of a planned massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria, effective September 15, 2024.
The protest is in response to the recent fuel price hike and the perceived incompetence of the NNPC Director General, Mele Kyari, demanding an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Male Kyari as the NNPC Director General
students plan to occupy all major cities on September 15, 2024, and have assured that the protest will be peaceful and lawful if NNPC authorities refuse to fulfil the demands of protesters.
The notification has been sent to various security agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Chief of Defence Staff, Nigerian Armed Forces, and all State Governors.
A circular issued to pass the shutdown notice reads: “We write to notify you of an impending massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria, effective 15th September 2024, in protest of the recent hike in fuel prices and the gross incompetence of the NPC Director General, Mele Kyari.
“The incessant increase in fuel prices has brought untold hardship to the masses, and we can no longer stand idly by while our future is mortgaged by the actions of a few. We demand an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Mr. Kyari as the NNPC DG.
“We call on all Nigerian students across the country to wake up to this clarion call, as we will be occupying all major cities on the 15th of September, 2024. We shall not be silenced, and we shall not be intimidated. We shall rise in unison to demand a better deal for Nigerian students and the masses.
“We urge you to take necessary measures to maintain law and order during the shutdown, as we assure you that our protest will be peaceful and lawful.”
In a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, the NLC expressed shock that Tinubu’s government could be this wicked.
The statement stated, “We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the Federal Government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased even as we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient.”
Among other things, the Congress demanded an immediate reversal of the pump price, release of incarcerated protesters and reversal of the 250 per cent hike in electricity tariff.
“In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public,” he assured.
