Oyo NLC boss accuses FG of creating artificial scarcity to increase fuel price

By Richard Thomas, Ibadan

Chairman, Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kayode Martins has accused the Federal Government of creating artificial scarcity of fuel in order to increase its pump price.

Martins said both the Oyo State and federal government must to as a matter of urgency address and find lasting solution to the problem relating to the lingering scarcity.

Speaking with Westernpost in Ibadan, Martins said the call became imperative in order to address the issue before it gets out of hands, just as he urged marketers and petrol station owners in the state to look into issue.

According to him, the intervention and action of NLC in the state calmed and addressed the problem when the situation was initially tensed, adding that government had plans to increase the price of fuel by creating artificial scarcity.

He noted that the development has grossly affected the economy and business activities of the people in the state, adding that commercial motorists now charge exorbitant transport fares.

“The government wanted to increase petrol product price by deliberately creating artificial scarcity, but we quickly moved and opposed it. If not for the intervention of the NLC, the issue would have got off hand,” he stated.

Martins said the little relief enjoyed by citizens of the state was a result of the action of the NLC by opposing the plans to increase price of petrol.

“Every hand should be on deck to address the issue. Government and security agencies need to do the needful. The media too has a role to play as far as the matter is concerned,” he added.

The NLC boss said government has hands in the artificial scarcity, otherwise they are not saying anything on the matter.

According to him, it is the duty of security agencies and their task force to arrest and bring to book petrol stations that sell the product above the official price.

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