Nigeria: Groups brace up for war over subsidy removal

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Federal Government’s final deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry which has led to increase of pump price of petrol from N65 to about N141 per litre has sparked outrage across the country Nigeria’s two key central labour unions – the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC indicating that they are ready to lead Nigerians out in mass protest over the issue.
“In the next few days, the leadership of the NLC and TUC will jointly issue directives on the date organised national strikes, street demonstrations and mass protests will commence. We shall neither surrender nor retreat,” the two unions said in a joint statement. “This New Year ‘gift’ by the presidency is callous, insensitive and is intended to cause anarchy in the country,” the two labour unions added.
This is even as reports indicated that most gas stations across the country are not selling products, probably because they are trying to adjust their pump to the new price.
Most Nigerians are condemning the removal of subsidy and lamenting the hardship the move will cause to Nigerians on facebook and other social networking sites Opposition parties, labour unions and civil society groups are taking the lead in not only condemning the subsidy removal but asking Nigerians to be prepared to resist it.
The Federal Government had despite strong opposition for labour unions, members of the civil societies and other interest groups announced the removal of subsidy premium motor spirit, popularly known as PMS on Sunday.
Reginald Stanley, Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA announced the removal in a statement in which he also informed that petroleum products marketers will not be paid subsidy for any product discharged after 1st, January. The PPPRA helmsman added that petroleum marketers are now to procure products and sell same in accordance with the indicative benchmark price to be published fortnightly and posted on the PPPRA website.
PM NEWS checks of indicative benchmark data on the PPPRA website put the current cost of petrol minus the subsidy at N141.00 as at 29, December, 2011.
Thus, Nigerian petrol consumers are expected to start buying petrol at this price with the announcement of the end of subsidy regime today, though reports indicated that a litre of fuel is being sold for N138 at some stations branded in the colour of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
In its reaction to the removal of subsidy, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC described the move as a declaration of war on the people. The party lamented that the Federal Government announced the commencement of the policy even when the National Assembly is still working on the 2012 budget.
“What is bewildering, however, is that a regime that pretends to derive its legitimacy from the people is implementing a policy that obviates the need for the assent of the People’s representatives,” said CPC.
“This is a clear mutation towards fascism and declaration of war on the Nigerian people!” the party added. “Undoubtedly, this latest decision clearly negates the provision of Section 14(2b) which declares that: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” CPC said.
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC in its earlier reaction rejected the removal of subsidy which it described as “anti people” even as it accuse the government of acting in bad fate by going ahead with the policy while he is still negotiating with labour.
The Congress said it has consequently on behalf of the Nigerian workers and the masses declared a dispute of interest with the Federal Government and added that its National Executive Council will meet in the coming days to take a firm decision on this issue.
In a press release signed by Comrade Peter Esele and Chief John Kolawole, its President and General Secretary respectively, TUC said it is surprised that the government could proceed to implement the removal without recourse to the National Assembly who all available indices indicates that they have not given it any legislative backing neither was it mentioned in the 2012 national budget.
“This action by President Goodluck Jonathan is therefore dictatorial, undemocratic and a total declaration of war on the poor masses of this country who are being punished by an inefficient system that is anchored on few corrupt oil thieves who are major sponsors and backers of government.
This is why the government cannot muster enough political will to arrest and prosecute them. What we expect the Federal Government through the PPPRA to do is to tackle the corruption in the system first before this present action”, the labour union said.
The Congress reiterated its position that new refineries are built and the old or existing ones are made to function optimally before government should consider the option of removal of petroleum subsidy.
In its own reaction contained in a press release signed by Osita Okechukwu, its publicity secretary, the, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties {CNPP} said the removal of subsidy did not follow due process and contrary to rule of law.