Oil subsidy removal: Party calls for palliative measures

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Oil subsidy removal: Party calls for palliative measures

The Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ) has urged the Nigerian government to introduce some palliative measures before the removal of oil subsidy.

The acting National Chairman of the political party, Mr Mustapha Dankyarana, gave the advice in Abuja, on Monday in an interview with reporters.

Dankyarana noted that the nation's economy was facing some challenges which could increase the cost of living of the citizenry.

“The government might have meant well for this country because some of these policies are good but Nigerians may not appreciate it now due to the timing.

“Actually, there is general poverty in the land due to unemployment caused by poor policies in the past, which were not addressed. Nigerians will not be convinced that withdrawal of the subsidy is necessary,’’ he said.

Palliative measure

Dankyarana stressed the need for a price regulatory mechanism which would control prices in the market, noting that any shift in prices of petroleum products would affect the well being of the people.

NLC and mass mobilisation

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress has vowed not to back down on its opposition to the planned removal of fuel subsidy, by the federal government.

NLC Deputy Treasurer, Boniface Isok, said in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital in southern Nigeria that those advising President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the subsidy were looking for the downfall of his administration.

Isok spoke at the opening of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLAN-MPE).

He said labour, civil society groups, market men and women, schools, churches, mosques, transporters and all living beings in Nigeria will join the strike, if the price of petrol is increased. “We have paid enough for diesel and kerosene and what is our own benefit,” he added.

Isok said that the Congress would embark on mass mobilisation of Nigerians against the planned withdrawal by the government.

Isok also lamented government’s inability to create more employment opportunities by repairing the moribund refineries or by building new ones. 

He expressed concern about the deplorable state of government’s infrastructure across the country, mostly roads in the Southsouth, Southeast and Southwest. 

Government’s defense

The government has said it is removing subsidy because it is being enjoyed by a few influential individuals to the detriment of the generality of Nigerians.
  
President Goodluck Jonathan had also appealed to the masses to bear the inconveniences that the removal of the subsidy might cause as it was aimed at the transformation of the country.  

According to the government, N1.2 trillion will be saved in one year. The cash, it said, would be deployed in the provision of infrastructure and as a “safety net for the poor”.

But the NLC is not persuaded; arguing that government previously promised to use the money saved to assist the people but failed to do so.

NAN/NP/ EhimenWilliams