Nigerian President summons emergency Executive Council Meeting

Goodluck Jonathan
The Nigerian President

Nigerian President summons emergency Executive Council Meeting

As Nigerians take to the streets to protest the removal of petrol subsidy, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan has summoned an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the country ostensibly to deliberate on the way forward.

The council had its last sitting in December agreed to reconvene for the first meeting this year on January 11, but the pressure arising from the abrupt withdrawal of the subsidy had apparently forced the President to ask for an urgent meeting a week earlier.

Agenda

Issues arising from the complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the economy and the threat of breakdown of law and order are expected to be high on its agenda.

The meeting is expected to properly articulate government’s response to the looming threat to peace as well as engagement of stakeholders, including organized labour, in negotiations.

The President is also expected to brief the Council on his recent declaration of State of Emergency in 15 local government areas spread across four states following the increasing spate of bomb attacks claimed by Islamic religious sect, Boko Haram.
The Ministers had already proceeded on Christmas holiday when the President announced the measures.

The protest

The nationwide protests, which began Monday in a few cities across the country on Tuesday spread to more locations.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) - the two biggest labour unions in the country, announced that their members would go on strike from Monday next week to press home a reversal of the deregulation policy.

They have asked government to revert fuel price to N 65 .00 per litre or face strike action.

The Labour unions threatened to shut down all offices,oil production centres,air and sea port,fuel stations,markets and banks from Monday January 9 2012.

NP/Adekusibe/Cokey