CHRICED backs strike action over fuel, electricity price hike


The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), has declared support to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other Civil Society affiliates for a total shut down as planned in  general strike which begins today, describing recent hikes in prices of essential commodities as “clear attacks on the welfare of citizens.”


It’s Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, stated this on Saturday in Kano during a state of the nation press conference organised by the center, stressing that hikes in electricity tariffs, value added tax (VAT), and the pump price of petroleum products is a brazen assault on the welfare and prospects of economic survival of the people of Nigeria. 

Zikirullahi recalled the difficulties many citizens, especially pregnant women and new born children who lost their lives during the COVID-19 lockdowns experienced, when all hospitals were shut and no access to health services. 


He faulted the government for restricting movements without creating alternatives for situations such as health-related emergencies, saying this resulted in deaths of expectant mothers and new born, many of who today belong to the terrible statistics of death and misery, which have been inflicted on our country by bad leaders.

He maintained that “at the moment, Nigeria is only working for a few political and economic elite, saying they always want the crisis in the country to remain because it currently benefits them. 


“The country is drifting dangerously, and the ship of state is stranded in very stormy waters. The teeming masses of the citizens of this country continue to groan under the pressure of bad governance. Unfortunately, the many problems faced by the ordinary citizen has been accentuated by the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“As if these challenges and deprivations were not enough; this difficult time is when the cold-hearted and insensitive government decided to impose unjustified and extortionate charges for key services. 

“The hikes in electricity tariffs, value added tax (VAT), and the pump price of petroleum products constitute another brazen assault on the welfare and prospects of economic survival of the people of Nigeria. 


According to the Exec. Dir. the general strike, if well executed with strategic intent, commitment and sincerity will send a clear message to the government, saying Nigerians can no longer breathe under the strangulating policies. 


He however expressed believes that there is a need for strategy and clear thinking to mobilize the people to get involved in the governance of their country with the goal of changing the current course of the nation. 

“There is a need to educate the teeming mass of our people to let them know that the power to determine the destiny of this country is in their hands. This is what CHRICED in its own little way has been trying to do. We will be coming forward with more initiatives along these lines shortly, he said.

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