*Labour Must Mobilise Against This Attack on the Working Masses*
Tolar
The Movement for a Socialist Alternative (MSA) has condemned what it called astronomical price hike in Petrol, saying that it threatens to nullify the impact of the recent increase in the minimum wage, which the federal government has yet to implement.
According to it’s General Secretary, AJ. Dagga Tolar the government’s relentless pursuit of neoliberal policies, including these crippling price hikes, continues to inflict untold pain on the working masses.
Over the past three weeks, the group said , Nigeria has been gripped by severe fuel scarcity, with countless citizens forced to sleep at petrol stations in a desperate bid to secure fuel. This crisis has hit many Nigerians, especially commercial drivers particularly hard, depriving them of the means to earn a living as they struggle to find enough fuel to run their vehicles.
And once again for the repeated time, we behold how price increase and hike fails completely to make petroleum products available.
Tolar said, “The over 370% increase from N165 to N617 by the Tinubu regime has now be eroded in a little over a year with the new prices ranging from ₦897 to ₦1,110 per litre. It means that under Tinubu regime fuel has suffered 650+% increase. This madness of the market, if unchecked will unendingly continue to run riot on the lives of the working masses, condemning us all further into excruciating worsening living conditions.
“It’s a bitter irony that Nigeria, a nation with vast crude oil deposits, has long been unable to refine its own petrol, subjecting the majority of its population to recurring cycles of scarcity and suffering, while Oil marketers and their circle of of cronies continue to make mice of the working masses reaping super profits from importing refined products. This is what capitalism translate to, as long as the Oil Barons and Marketers stand to make more profit from importing, so long will they oppose and frustrate efforts at refining locally.
“This also applies to the Dangote Refinery which will only optimally become functional only on account of making more super profits compared to importing the product, it is therefore not impossible that this is increase a step in that direction, unmindful of damning consequences on all other sectors of the economy and the paralysis it brings about.
Tolar argued that Nigerians already grappling with unbearable living costs, have now had foisted on them on Monday, September 3rd, another unacceptable fuel price increase.
“It is not only unjust but seems to be a deliberate effort to deepen the divide between the rich and the poor, leaving ordinary Nigerians to bear the brunt of the economic hardship,” he said, adding thar within just 12 months of the current administration, Nigeria’s inflation rate has skyrocketed from 22.2% to a staggering 33.4%, with food inflation surging past 40%.
“This sharp increase has had a devastating effect on both businesses and households across the country. The cost of essential goods has become unbearable, pushing many Nigerians into deeper levels of poverty and creating economic instability.
“The situation is further compounded by the escalating price of petrol, which has triggered an energy crisis that threatens the industrial sector. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has raised alarms about the imminent shutdown of factories, as the rising energy costs have left many industries struggling to survive. The high cost of petrol has increased operational expenses for manufacturers, making it difficult for them to maintain production levels. This is particularly concerning in a country already burdened with an unemployment rate hovering at unprecedented levels.
“The industrial sector, which is critical to national development and economic stability, is now at a breaking point due to the unsustainable cost of energy.
“We welcome the rejection of the increment by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and and the call for the immediate reversal. And commence the mobilisation of workers in the country in readiness for a series of actions including protest march and a 48 -hour General Strike to resist this latest assault on the people. The time has come for all Nigerians to stand against these anti-people policies and demand the nationalisation of the petrol sector under democratic management and control.
“In the very face that N70,000 new minimum wage has not been implemented and the revelation that it had agreed to the figure on account that there will be no new increase by the Tinubu regime . The MSA hopes that labour leadership will learn from this to not place any trust whatsoever on the Tinubu regime given its uncompromising commitment to continue with the antipeople policies of deregulation and privatisation which what drives this perennial increase in petroleum products.
“The Tinubu regime is not interested in employing the resources of the country in constructing new refineries or making existing ones functional, since this does no good to the class interest of Big Business and oil marketers’ quest for super profit. This is why the MSA insists that the larger working class movement must develop the needed class consciousness to embrace the programme and manifesto of Socialist Alternative. Come into the arena of struggle and bring into existence a Workers’ and Farmers Government.”
