Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has condemned further increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol, urging the federal government to stop the drift.
Price of the petrol was increased on Tuesday from N539 to N617 and N568 per litre by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, in Abuja and Lagos respectively.
NUJ, in a statement, titled: “Stop the drift” issued on Tuesday by its National Secretary, Shuaibu Usman Leman, has canvassed that the situation should be reversed immediately while adequate measures are considered and put in place to lessen the effects on ordinary Nigerians.
The union noted that the development has already triggered astronomical increases in transportation costs, with prices of food items soaring almost beyond the reach of many citizens.
It also said that even users of generators to power their homes are already groaning uncontrollably under the present situation.
While applauding the decision to remove the costly subsidies on fuel, NUJ, however, cautioned against a hasty implementation of the policy without putting mitigating measures in place to cushion the excruciating effects.
“We are saddened by the fact that today most people can hardly commute to work or other places of business without too much stress because the embarrassing sudden surge in petrol prices has made it so.
“We believe that this sudden decision is an over kill and we urge that the situation should be reversed immediately while adequate measures are considered and put in place to lessen the effects on ordinary Nigerians,” it stated.
