‘Oil Subsidy Removal Will Encourage Adulteration’

The proposed removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government will encourage the adulteration of petroleum products in the country, Mr Mike Akusu, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Delta has said.

Akusu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Thursday that with the removal of subsidy, dealers of petroleum products would want to make more gains by adulterating the products.

He said that the subsidy removal would also push the country back to the era of “non-availability” of the products, with escalating prices.

The NLC chairman further said that the removal of the subsidy would cause unemployment.

He explained that the common man, especially artisans, who depended on such products to power their generators, would no longer afford the products.

“And that will consequently result in increase in criminality, mass unemployment and inflation in the prices of other goods in the market.”

Akusu advised the Federal Government to put into consideration the adverse effects of its policies on the populace before implementation.

In his reactions to the proposed fuel subsidy removal, Dr John Nwachokor, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Delta chapter, said “it will only help in enriching politicians”.

He complained that even the 13 per cent derivation fund to oil producing states in the country had not been well utilised.

Nwachokor said that as more than half of the benefiting states had no developmental structures on ground to show for what they received.

He accused the government of some of the benefiting states of diverting the funds, rather than using it for the development of the states.

Also reacting, a commercial motorcyclist, Mr Chukwujindu Anozia, appealed to the Federal Government not to remove the oil subsidy.

He said “the current status of availability of petroleum products and at pump price is the best gift any president can give to the country.”

He commended late President Umar Yar’Adua “for his foresight in subsidising petroleum products to ameliorate the hardships of the people.”

He also appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to maintain the status quo.

Another commercial motorcyclist, Mr David Eluaka, said that the removal of subsidy would cause more hardships in the nation.

He said, “it will amount to going back to the days of petroleum products users spending nights at filling stations just to get products.”

He appealed to the Federal Government to always work toward enhancing the living conditions of its citizenry rather than making them worse.