TUC rejects petrol price hike, says no govt has ‘raped Nigeria’ like Buhari’s

The Trade Union of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the increment in the pump price of petrol.

The pump price of petrol was increased on Wednesday, two days after a new electricity tariff was implemented.

Marketers are currently selling petrol between N158 and N162 per litre.

In a statement on Thursday, Quadri Olaleye, TUC president, and Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the union’s secretary-general, said no government has “raped” the country like the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

They described the increment of petrol price and electricity tariff as “wicked”, adding that it is coming at a time when people are losing jobs because of the effects of COVID-19.

“They have developed a thick skin that our pleas and cries no longer mean anything to them. No government has raped this country like the present one; ironically it has enjoyed our understanding the most,” the statement read.

“They beat us and when we cry, they send security operatives after us or force us to pay a fine of N5m for ‘hate speech.’ Our patience has run out.

“In droves, Nigerians flee the shores of this country. Just two days ago, we protested the hike in electricity tariff and sadly, yesterday, they slammed us with fuel hike at a time countries like Ghana and Canada are giving out palliatives to cushion the effects of coronavirus pandemic.

“It is difficult to cope in this circumstance. Do we still wonder why unemployment and insecurity have increased? This is disgustingly shameful.

“We urge government to listen to the voice of reason and reverse the price immediately. Stop pushing Nigerians to the wall. This is too daring.”

TUC added that it will call a meeting to take decisions on this “obnoxious move”.