Encomium
The proposed nationwide strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 to protest against the new petrol price of N145 per litre has hit yet another snag as the Senate today gave its backing to the new price regime.
The Senate took the decision after holding a closed-door meeting which lasted for about an hour.
Rising from the meeting, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu, said the Senate had resolved to engage with the Federal Government to find out sustainable ways of improving the welfare of Nigerians.
He told reporters that the Senate sympathised with Nigerians for the hardship which the new price of petrol would cause and therefore called on the government to implement the palliatives in the 2016 budget.
The government had said that the decision was taken to address the scarcity of the product that had resulted due to low importation caused by the scarcity of foreign exchange and the inability of the nation’s refineries to produce petrol at optimum level.
Earlier today, the National Industrial Court, Abuja granted an Interim Order of Injunction restraining the NLC embarking on industrial action, demonstrating or engaging in any action that may disrupt the economic activities of the country.
It is however not clear whether the NLC will go ahead with the strike action despite the little support it is getting from professional bodies and majority of Nigerians in general.
DanielFayemi for encomium.ng
