The president of The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero says the current price war between the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery over petrol price was fraudulent, adding that in a deregulated economy there is choice and competition.
He said : “The basis for regulating what Dangote should sell or dictating prices for the private sector is fraudulent.”
Ajaero who spoke to airport Correspondents on Wednesday, 18, September, 2024 at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, noted that the government was bent on frustrating Dangote refinery operations.
Ajaero, however expressed disappointment on government's failure in repairing the refineries as promised in August last year when the new administration came on board. He added that as at September 2024, none of the refinery is working.
The NLC president attributed the government’s policy somersault to the current price war between NNPCL and Dangote refinery.
He questioned the rationale behind controlling what Dangote can sell, arguing that dictating decisions for the private sector is a fraudulent overreach.
Ajaero beckoned on Nigerians to speak up as the government is trying to dictate to the private sector how much it should sell its product.
“For a product produced here, he didn’t import with dollars, there was no landing cost and they wanted him to sell it at the same cost of what they are bringing from abroad. That is fraudulent and unacceptable”
Ajearo reassures that the N70,000 minimum wage implementation is on track, with no reason to worry. The plan is to follow the agreement made on April 18, 2024, and the consequential adjustment committee is actively working on the rollout.
He added that the meeting of the consequential adjustment committee is currently working towards implementation.
He emphasised that on minimum wage payment, government will implement it as the National Assembly has passed the bill.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) have differing opinions on the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, produced and distributed by Dangote Refinery on Sunday.
While the two oil giants present conflicting price accounts, independent oil marketers await clarification on the commodity's price from the sole off-taker which is NNPC.
NNPC had on Monday, 16 September, 2024, released a breakdown of estimated petrol prices from the Dangote refinery in its retail stations in Lagos as well as other states in the country.
