COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) HELD AT PENGASSAN U.M OKORO HOUSE, LAGOS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009

An emergency meeting of the National Executive council (NEC) of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) was held on Tuesday March 10, 2009 at the National Secretariat of PENGASSAN U.M. Okoro Lagos.

The meeting was attended by the National officers of the congress, Presidents and General Secretary of affiliate Unions and Chairmen and Secretaries of State Councils of TUC nationwide.

The meeting deliberated extensively on the Government’s new policy of full deregulation and petroleum products subsidy removal and the likely consequences of the policy on the populace if implemented.

The meeting noted the Federal Government acceptance of the fact that the Oil Sector is corruption ridden and import dependent which does not support the growth and development of the nation’s economy.

The meeting also noted that when the goings was good, no attempt was made by the Federal Government to evolve policies that would be beneficial to Nigerians. Instead, it was sufferings all the way with many Nigerians losing their jobs through retrenchment and pre-mature retirement.

It was equally noted that the huge revenue accrued to the Federal Government coffers from Crude Oil Price Upsurge between 1999 and July 2009 were looted and no meaningful development projects was executed to affect the socioeconomic lives of the Nigerians people within the period.

Having exhaustively discussed the efforts and responses of the Federal Government to the age-long challenges of deregulation, and based on the foregoing arguments and the critical analysis of the issues, THE CONGRESS STRONGLY REJECT POLICY OF DEREGULATION AND REMOVAL OF SUBSIDY.

However, if the Government feels very strongly that it is only through Deregulation that it could successfully manage the country’s economy to the path of sustainable growth and development, the congress demands that the following conditions must be met for an acceptable implementation of policy:

·        The four refineries must be made functional to full capacity utilization.

·        Government should embark on the building of new refineries to guarantee adequate supply.

·        All the producers must be compelled to refine 30% of their production capacity locally.

·        Modification of Atlas Cove Terminal to accommodate quick discharge of product thus minimising demurrage and other associate supply and distribution bottlenecks.

·        Creation of enabling environment:

o       Adequate Security in the Niger Delta

o       Improved power supply

o       Good road, waterways and rail network

o       Efficient crude and petroleum product distribution system

o       Pioneer status concession to promoter of refineries

o       And most importantly, payment of living wage.

The congress declared that should the Federal Government go ahead to implement the policy of full deregulation and removal of subsidy without factoring the demands of the Congress, the leadership of the TUC shall be left with no other option than to carry out the directive of Congress to direct all affiliates and members of TUC to proceed on nationwide strike action until the Federal Government meets the demands of the Congress.

For: Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC)

Signed

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Comrade Peter Esele                                  

President General  

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Chief John Kolawole                                  

Secretary General