The International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative has reacted to the rising cost of petrol and inflation following the removal of fuel subsidy.
The group condemned the continuous escalation of the suffering of the masses by the Nigerian government.
Voiceofnaija.ng reported that pump prices of fuel rose to N617 and above on Tuesday, a situation the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has blamed on market forces.
However, a statement signed by the President and Secretary of the group, Comrade Osmond Ugwu and Dr Jerry Chukwuokolo, respectively on Wednesday said if not checked now, the pump price of petrol will “rise to N1,000 per litre before the ending of the year”.
This unchecked trend has led to an astronomical increase in everything, including the cost of public transportation, food items in the market, rent, etc.
The statement said: “At the same time, we wish to express our displeasure with the passive position of NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) and TUC (Trade Union Congress) over the whole thing.
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“While we are aware of the court injunction on strike against NLC, we wish to observe that there are many ways of killing a rat. Hence, organised labour has so many options for protesting against this ugly development without necessarily being caught by the so-called judicial restraints.
“We are calling on the organised labour of NLC and TUC to mobilize their membership and civil society into peaceful protests and picketing without officially directing the members to a formal industrial action of withdrawal of services which is the only thing that the injunction of the court covers essentially.
“From every indication, it is only consistent peaceful protests and picketing through rallies and processions that can compel the government to understand the power of the masses and respond to their demands. If serious action is not taken now, Nigerians will see the worst things from this government in time to come.”