Govs want emergency NEC meeting over petrol, electricity prices hike
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has resolved to set up a committee made up of the governors of Jigawa (chairman), Nasarawa, Ogun, Kwara, Gombe, Abia and Bayelsa states to interface with the National Economic Council (NEC), the labour unions, and relevant stakeholders for the overall interest of the nation.
The resolution followed the plan by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to embark on an indefinite national strike over the recent increase in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff.
The governors of the 36 States in a communiqué issued at the end of the 18th NGF teleconference emergency meeting held on Thursday, September 24, 2020 agreed to intercede with the labour unions, the federal government and other stakeholders with a special call on labour to exercise caution in its plan to embark on strike action.
The communiqué which was released yesterday and signed by NGF Vice Chairman and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, noted that any such action would worsen the already deteriorating economic situation of the workers brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NGF Secretariat promised to provide relevant support to the committee on the details of the mechanism for deregulation put in place by the federal government.
The governors called for an emergency NEC meeting as soon as the committee comes up with a common position on the deregulation of both the petroleum and power sectors and the figures laid bare for all to see.
They advised that any position taken by the forum should not be seen to be contrary or injurious to the position they have always maintained in support of deregulation.
The governors voiced serious concern over deductions from the Federation Allocation of the 774 LGAs of the country to construct and equip healthcare centres in each local government area on behalf of the Association of Local Government Areas of Nigeria (ALGON).
The forum rejected the legality and the legitimacy of the contract, including all financing arrangements.