The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday issued a strongly-worded statement condemning subsidy withdrawal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The statement titled: \u201cEnforce N65 per litre price,\u201d and signed by NLC acting Genera; Secretary Owei Lakemfa and TUC Secretary General John Kolawole said: \u201cAs Nigerians mourn the victims of the bomb blasts in the last few days and grapple with insecurity, the Jonathan Administration decided to utilise this period to impose astronomical fuel price increases on the populace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis New Year \u201cgift\u201d by the Presidency is callous, insensitive and is intended to cause anarchy in the country. It is tragic that the Jonathan Government has become the greatest source of insecurity in the country and the spring of danger to the Nigerian nation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cIn the last few days, Jonathan\u2019s administration told Nigerians that it was consulting us on the issue of fuel subsidy removal and that if any was contemplated, it would be with effect from April 1, 2012. \u00a0The NLC and TUC warned Nigerians that this government thrives on falsehood and can therefore not be trusted. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Presidency\u2019s New Year Day action of removing the fuel subsidy and imposing new fuel prices on the populace is a clear demonstration of the fact that the Jonathan administration cannot be trusted. We also have information that it intends to make a litre of PMS N150.00 and then ask the NNPC to reduce the price at its fuel stations by a few Naira. Nigerians must defeat whatever are the schemes of this government.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe NLC, TUC, the pro-people Civil Society Organisations and patriotic Professional organisations reject these new fuel prices and direct Nigerians to resist their imposition. \u00a0We direct our state councils and unions to take steps to resist any price above N65 litre of PMS, and await a date for the commencement of general strikes and mass protests across the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSimilarly, we alert the populace to begin immediate mobilisation towards the D-day for the commencement of the strikes, street demonstrations and mass protests across the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWith the decision of the Jonathan administration to create chaos in the country, we Nigerians have the duty and responsibility to restore the country to normalcy and reclaim our birthright.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis promises to be a long drawn battle; we know its beginning, but we do not know its end or when it will end. But we are confident that the Nigerian people will triumph over the cabal in Aso Rock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe call on the National Assembly and the governors to side with the people and stand by them in this struggle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n