Fuel subsidy removal: Labour threatens mass uprising

THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has advised the Presidency to cut social spending and jettison its planned fuel subsidy removal to avoid the wrath of Nigerians and save the nation from social uprising. It warned that indices that gave rise to the uprising in North Africa and the Arab world were everywhere in Nigeria.
This came as strong indications emerged weekend that heads may roll in the oil industry following the resolve of Senate Probe Panel on fuel subsidy to expose the cartel in the alleged N1.5 trillion fuel subsidy fraud. The panel disclosed that the Federal Government had been financing the fuel subsidy through a secret account, adding that the government might spend over N1.3trillion on fuel subsidy this year alone as against the N240 billion that was voted for it in the 2011 budget.
NECA to state position today
Meanwhile, employers in the country under the umbrella of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, will today state their position on the controversial fuel subsidy removal.A statement by the body said “the Director-General NECA will be having a press briefing on the fuel subsidy removal. The briefing will throw more light on the actual position of the Organised Private Sector on the removal of fuel subsidy.”

STRANDED: Motorists stranded in traffic caused by departing members of a popular church along Cele-Ijesha axis of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, yesterday. Photo: Akintola

Also, Bishop of Abeokuta Archdiocese, Martins Adewale and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) tasked government on fixing of the nation’s refineries.
NLC, NUPENG kick
Restating its opposition, organised labour said hijacking the private sector forum and smuggling a fake endorsement for removal by the so-called private sector would not make Nigerians accept such a calamity.
In a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, NLC implored the Federal Government to cut social spending instead of orchestrating endorsement of its fuel subsidy removal plot.
The statement read: “The NLC advises the Presidency to learn from the October 15 Global Day of action against corporate greed and cut in social spending, rather than orchestrate endorsement of its fuel subsidy removal gambit.
The global protests on Saturday is a red card for the ruinous programme of subsidy removal and cuts in social spending and an indication that the North African uprising is spreading. The Federal Government should face this reality and address growing poverty, hunger and anger amongst the masses.
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