End fuel Scarcity NOW! Or…. NLC Tells FG

Worried at the sustained scarcity of petrol, the Nigerian Labour Congress [NLC] has called on the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders in the petroleum industry to find an urgent and durable solution to the fuel Scarcity.
In a Press Statement issued on Tuesday, May 5, and signed by the congress’ president, Ayuba Wabba, it described the situation as “painful”.
Mr. Wabba said: “We are worried at the sustained scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol in nearly all parts of the country for several weeks now without any successful intervention by government or its agencies in the petroleum industry.
“It has been tougher in the Federal Capital Territory and now the South West and some other states are also experiencing the scarcity.
“This painful experience Nigerians have been subjected to have been exacerbated by the embarrassing tirade between the fuel marketers and the Federal government represented by the Coordinating Minister on the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the actual amount owed the marketers.”
The congress also stated its dissatisfaction over the “protracted haggling” and suspected conspiracy ignited by “those clamouring for the removal of subsidy on petroleum.”
It says: that “this protracted haggling by this major stakeholders even on the total amount owed, points to a conspiracy that perhaps, the scarcity may have been ignited by those clamouring for the removal of subsidy on petroleum.
“Our position on this has not changed as we remain opposed to the removal of petroleum subsidy.
“If government is truly owing marketers, they should pay them immediately as the long queues at fuel stations has led to loss of lots of productive hours since workers are either unable to get to work or spend long hours searching for fuel.”
He pointed out the dubious activities of Petroleum workers  who have resorted to “sharp practices with workers paying between N120 to N130 per litre at some filling stations.  For those commuting by public transport, they now pay more to get to work even when there are no increases in salaries.
He invested the responsibility of arresting the situation on the Federal Government since they are fully responsible for the management of the petroleum industry.
He noted that one of the reasons government gave for the increase in the price of petroleum products in 2012 was that “it will ensure regular supply of the products” and asserted the unwillingness of the Nigerian populace to be blackmailed into accepting the current scarcity as reason for another increase.
He concluded by saying that the “Government need to decisively intervene immediately to ensure the restoration of regular supply of the products. It must accept and take full responsibility for the current scarcity, which it must end immediately.”