Nigeria Labour Congress President Blasts Government over Dangote-NNPC Dispute
Joe Ajearo, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has accused the government of policy somersault and fraudulent moves in the ongoing dispute between the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Speaking to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal ll in Lagos on Wednesday, Ajearo described the situation as "uncalled for" and "fraudulent". He argued that in a deregulated economy, there should be choices and competition, and that the government’s attempt to regulate how much Dangote sells its product is an act of fraud.
Ajearo pointed out that Dangote did not import the product with dollars and did not incur any landing costs, yet the government wants him to sell it at the same price as the imported 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 as the one they are bringing from abroad. That is fraudulent and unacceptable," he stated.
The Labour Congress President also questioned the government’s motives, saying that if the economy has been deregulated, why is the government trying to regulate what Dangote sells and how much he sells it for? "When Port Harcourt refinery comes up, let NNPC sell, let Dangote also sell but when you now begin to regulate how much Dangote should sell, that is fraudulent," he said.
Ajearo urged Nigerians to speak up against this perceived injustice, saying that the government’s actions are a betrayal of the deregulation promise. "This is the time for Nigerians to speak up. They told us that when they deregulate the economy, the private sector will direct the economy and the government will have no business in business. Now, they are trying to regulate how or what to sell by the private sector."
The dispute between Dangote and NNPC has been ongoing for some time, with both parties accused of trying to outmaneuver each other. The Labour Congress President’s comments are likely to fuel further controversy and debate over the issue.
