President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has urged the federal government to resuscitate the country’s refineries and build new ones before the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.
Wabba, represented by Benjamin Anthony, National Auditor, stated this on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau State, while addressing the Plateau Executive Council of NLC after the suspension of subsidy removal by the government
He said the organised labour would continue to resist subsidy removal until suitable mechanisms were put in place to reduce the direct impact on common Nigerians.
“If the subsidy is going to be removed, then the federal government should put our four refineries in use,” Wabba said.
He said out of all the countries in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), only Nigeria was refining its crude outside the country.
Wabba said the price of fuel would be affordable for ordinary people if the product is refined locally.
He commended the federal government for suspending the pump price increase to give room for more negotiations.
Wabba also commended the NLC in Plateau State for mobilising massively for the protest, which was supposed to have taken place on Thursday.
He called on the union to stay action following the suspension by the federal government, NAN reports.
