The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a directive to all civil servants in Akwa Ibom State to commence an indefinite strike action, effective Thursday, September 26, 2024.
Bellnews reports that the decision was reached in response to the exorbitant fuel price hike, which has reached N2,500 per litre in the state.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), in solidarity with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs), had earlier enforced a nationwide shutdown of independent petrol stations.
This followed the seizure of fuel-loaded tankers by military operatives of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), at the oil community of Ibaka, in Mbo local government area, over alleged smuggling of the product.
Reacting, Governor Umo Eno had previously vowed to intervene in the matter, promising to address the issue of fuel price manipulation and bring those responsible to justice.
However, the NLC expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of tangible action taken by the state government to address the crisis.
The NLC said its decision to embark on a strike is a direct result of the ongoing fuel scarcity and the devastating impact it has had on the lives of ordinary citizens. The union has accused the state government of failing to take decisive measures to alleviate the suffering of the people.
In a statement released to the media, the NLC called on Governor Eno to take immediate steps to resolve the fuel crisis and ensure that the rights of workers are protected. The union also demanded that the state government establish a task force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent confiscation of fuel-laden tankers by military operatives.
The directive 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 the impacts arising from this directive to our workers and citizens and do resolve 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.”