The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all civil servants in Akwa Ibom State to begin an indefinite strike starting Thursday, September 26, 2024, in response to the skyrocketing fuel prices, which have hit N2,500 per litre in the state.
The strike action follows the enforcement of a nationwide shutdown of independent petrol stations by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), who are in solidarity with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs).
The shutdown was triggered by the seizure of fuel-loaded tankers by military personnel from Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in the oil-rich community of Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, over allegations of smuggling.
Governor Umo Eno had previously pledged to intervene, assuring the public that he would address the issue of fuel price manipulation and bring those responsible to justice.
Despite this, the NLC expressed frustration with what it sees as the state government’s failure to take effective action.
The union stated that the strike is a direct response to the ongoing fuel scarcity, which has caused immense hardship for ordinary citizens in the state.
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In a press release, the NLC urged the state government to take immediate steps to resolve the crisis and protect the rights of workers. They also called for the creation of a task force to investigate the circumstances behind 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.”
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