Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the federal government against the reintroduction of toll gates, saying the coming back of the toll gates has no positive effect on the people.
The congress in a communiqué of its Central Working Committee (CWC) made available to newsmen in Abuja Wednesday noted with disappointment, the plan of government to re-introduce toll gates on the highways and roads.
It recalled the enormous public resources expended in the past on the construction and demolition of toll gates, observing that the proceeds from toll collection were never effectively deployed for the maintenance of roads, but lined the pockets of favoured collectors.
Convinced that proceeds from any new toll collections will suffer the same fate, the CWC disagreed with the planned re-introduction of toll gates, maintaining that the reintroduction will not benefit the common people.
On electricity tariff increase, the CWC said the 45% upward increase in electricity Tariff at this point in time with the challenges in the economy, which have adversely reduced the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians and slowed down businesses, including manufacturing, is not justifiable.
According to the CWC, the distribution companies have continued to exploit Nigerians by estimated billing systems for the majority of consumers, while deliberately refusing to make pre-paid metres available.
The CWC said it was clear that the 45% tariff increase is an additional heavy burden on consumers and will have a telling effect on business especially manufacturing.
It therefore resolved to eject the Tariff increase, demanding that prepaid metres be made available free to all consumers.
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