No fuel increase until Federal Government, Labour meet – Sylva

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, discloses that there will be no increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) until Organised Labour discuss and decide.

Top Naija reports that the minister gave the guarantee, on Friday, while addressing journalists in Lagos.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva

Sylva declared that the explanation was required by reports that the price of PMS, generally known as petrol, had been increased to N212.61 per litre.

He said, “Irrespective of the source of that information, I want to assure you that it is completely untrue.

“Neither Mr President who is the Minister of Petroleum Resources nor myself who deputise for him as minister of state has approved that petrol price should be increased by one Naira.

“I therefore urge you to disregard this misleading information.”

As indicated by him, for the past few months, the government has been in discussion with Organised Labour to find the least painful option to react to the worldwide increase of crude price which has unavoidably led to rise in petrol prices.

The minister stated that it was absurd that the government would individually abandon these consultations and act in the manner recommended by the information under reference.

Sylva further declared that sarcasm and deceitfulness have never been the attribute of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

He said, “I will like to equally assure you that the engagement with the organised labour and other stakeholders will continue even as the calculations to arrive at a reasonable price regime are being done; all in good faith and you will be availed of the final outcome at the appropriate time.

“Until then, all marketers are strongly advised to maintain the current pump price of PMS before the emergence of this unfortunate information.

“Those who may want to take advantage of this unfortunate information to extort Nigerians should not give in to such temptations as there are regulatory mechanisms that the government can enforce to protect its citizens.

“In conclusion, I want to sincerely apologise to all Nigerians for any distress and inconvenience the unfortunate information might have caused.”