Falana-led group joins nationwide protest against petrol price hike 

The Alliance for the Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has asked Nigerians to participate in the September 23 nationwide protest called by the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The protest follows the recent hike in electricity tariff and fuel price which the TUC and other groups have described as anti-people.

ASCAB, a coalition of about 80 groups chaired by Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a statement on Tuesday, said it will mobilise the civil society to join the protest tagged ‘Enough is Enough’ in support of working people and poor Nigerians who face the daily agony of survival.

The protest, ASCAB said, is to show public discontentment against fuel and electricity tariff hike which continue to push many Nigerians to the edge of frustration and desperation.

ASCAB said it will go along with the TUC while waiting for the Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC) to join after its Wednesday meeting.

“We call on all Nigerians, workers, farmers, students, traders, the poor and the defenseless people alike, women, men, young and the aged to come out on September 23 to show their disdain against institutionalised poverty, hunger, deprivation and the the country’s slide into a cesspool of anomie in the face of violence and spineless killings,” the statement signed by Falana read.

“This will be done peacefully in communities, neighbourhoods, public streets. All the 80 affiliates of ASCAB in all areas or locations where they are based, including TUC affiliates nationwide are expected to participate in the protest.

“Last year the price of crude was about $60 a barrel and the dollar was about N360. Now the cost of crude is about $45 and a dollar is worth about N390. So last year the cost of barrel of crude oil was about N22,000 a barrel and now it is only N17,500 a reduction of about 20%.”

ASCAB said it wondered why the government is forcing Nigerians to pay fifty percent more for petrol when the price of crude oil has significantly reduced.

The group said the government’s policies have further impoverished Nigerians and fuelled their desperation to survive even if it means breaking the law and societal values.

It said the fuel hike coming during a pandemic when many workers have lost their jobs and millions have been placed on half salary “is wicked and inhuman”.