Katsina State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has expressed concern over activities of petroleum marketers who create artificial scarcity of petrol in the state.

The state’s NLC said some of the petroleum marketers were in the habit of selling the product above the officially approved price. It therefore, called on the government to strengthen the state’s Petroleum Task Force Committee to deal with such unscrupulous petroleum marketers.

The state’s NLC chairman, Comrade Tanimu Saulawa, made the call over the weekend when he led other executive members of the organisation on a courtesy visit to the governor.

Saulawa said some greedy petroleum marketers have created artificial scarcity of the commodity, thereby creating untold hardship on the people.

He said as labour leaders, they had traveled far and wide and had observed a difference in price and availability of the commodity elsewhere.

“We call on the state government to strengthen the petroleum task force to be more reliable, effective and responsive so as to monitor, ensure and compel marketers to seek petrol at official price.”

Saulawa said it is necessary for the government to take action against the marketers so as to make life easier for people of the state.

He said as labour leaders, it was necessary to set up agenda for the government to address problem facing the state.

The chairman however called on the state government to always cross-check information filtering from political and critic sources before taking decisions.

He said this was necessary as there were politicians and bureaucrats that may have contributed in one way or the other to the problem of the past.

“We wish to advise you to observe and take note of such self-serving individuals and encourage your lieutenants to tell the truth and advice towards good industrial harmony that would lead to peaceful atmosphere for development.”

Responding, Governor Aminu Bello Masari expressed his administration’s readiness to work with labour leaders to achieve for a vibrant civil service. Masari however called on the NLC to complement his government’s efforts for excellent service delivery in public schools and health institutions.

Credit: Today