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Labour tackles FG over fuel price increase, demands immediate reversal
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the latest hike in the pump price of fuel by the Federal Government and demanded an immediate reversal.
This is coming about three days after the announcement by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company Limited of an increase in the ex-depot price of petrol from N147.67 per litre to N155.17 per litre and directed filling stations to sell the product between N168 and N170 per litre.
But the Nigeria Labour Congress said the action was a breach of the agreement it recently reached with the Federal Government.
President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said it also cast in a bad light “our utmost good faith with regard to government’s explanations that it lacks funds to continue bankrolling the so-called subsidy payments” as such would sooner than later cripple the entire economy, throw the country into severe economic crisis, and cause loss of jobs in millions.
He expressed this position in a statement on Monday in Abuja to condemn the increase, alleging that there was no doubt that there was great disquiet in the land over the extraordinary level of inflation.
It said the Federal Government did this despite an agreement that it would take immediate steps to revamp the nation’s ailing refineries.
It said, “The recent increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) has only exacerbated the current level of pain and anguish in the country.
“The recent increase in the pump price of the PMS is clearly against the spirit and content of what organised labour agreed with the government at the last negotiations over the last fuel price increase.
“While we await the full recovery of our refineries as contained in our agreement with the government, Nigerians cannot be made to bleed endlessly for the failures of successive governments to properly manage our refineries, ensure value for money for the numerous turn around maintenance (TAM) which were poorly and barely executed and the horrifying lack of interest in prosecuting public officials and private business people who have profited from the rot in our petroleum sector and the collective misery they have imposed on the general population.”
The NLC also said there was a limit to what the citizens could bear if the increases in the price of refined petroleum products and other essential goods and services continued.
It stated, “While we fix our refineries, there are a number of options open to the government to stem the tide of high prices of refined petroleum products. One is for the government to declare a state of emergency in our downstream petroleum sector.
“As a follow up to this, the government should enter into contract refining with refineries closer home to Nigeria.
“This will ensure that the cost of supplying crude oil is negotiated away from prevailing international market rate so that the landing cost of refined petroleum products is significantly reduced.
“Government should also demonstrate the will to stamp out the smuggling of petroleum products out of Nigeria.
“We need to see big time petroleum smugglers arraigned in the court of law and made to pay for their crimes against the Nigerian people. Government has the resources available to it to ensure this economic justice to Nigerians.
“The question on the minds of many Nigerians is if the government is willing to go headlong against major financiers of the major political parties known to the public as the architects of the current national woe,” he stated.
Labour insisted that information on the distribution of petroleum products to petrol stations be advertised as a way to carry everyone along on with the distribution of refined petroleum products.
News
Why we exclude private varsity students from loan scheme – FG
Why we exclude private varsity students from loan scheme – FG
The management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has stated that students from private tertiary institutions are not included in the Student Loan Scheme because the loan is meant for indigent students.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr who spoke during an interactive session with journalists under the umbrella of the Education Writers’ Association (EWAN), argued that any student found in private tertiary institutions in Nigeria cannot be said to be poor.
He added that though President Bola Tinubu’s desire was for all students in Nigerian tertiary institutions to benefit from the loan, the loan is targeted at indigent students to ensure their access to higher education.
“I met with the President and he asked similar questions because of his belief that every Nigerian child whose parents’ taxes form the sources of the loan should benefit.
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“But we cannot say because the taxpayers are the funders and so the purpose should be defeated. Any student found in private institutions in Nigeria cannot be said to be poor,” he said.
He added that mechanisms have been put in place to identify students who truly deserve the loan.
“What we are to do is wealth redistribution and not to take from the rich to pay the rich again. We target only those who truly deserve it and we have our mechanisms to confirm this in place. Applicants’ BVN is one of such,” he said.
Sawyerr however noted that inmates from correctional service’s custodial centres studying in higher institutions such as the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) are excluded because it will be difficult to offer loans to them since they are serving jail terms.
“The money is not a grant but a loan that is recoverable but how do you recover a loan from somebody serving life sentence or prolonged jail term? Even when they are out, there could be difficulties securing jobs that will enable them to repay,” he said.
Why we exclude private varsity students from loan scheme – FG
News
Yahaya Bello: EFCC warns against obstruction of operations
Yahaya Bello: EFCC warns against obstruction of operations
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned members of the public that it is a criminal offense to obstruct its officers from carrying out their lawful duties.
The warning comes after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi State, “rescued” Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, from the siege of the commission in Abuja on Wednesday.
Chronicle NG reports that operatives of the EFCC had earlier restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
However, after a few hours, Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.
Following the development, Dele Oyewale, Head Media & Publicity, of the Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, mentioned that the commission “will no longer tolerate obstruction of” their operations.
He added that culprits would henceforth be prosecuted, and they stand a possible jail term of “not less than five years” when found guilty.
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The statement reads, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission wishes to warn members of the public that it is a criminal offense to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
“Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offense to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
“This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their own hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order. Regrettably, such a disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.
“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organization to obstruct its operation, as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”
Yahaya Bello: EFCC warns against obstruction of operations
News
Security men open fire to arrest Yahya Bello at Abuja residence
Security men open fire to arrest Yahya Bello at Abuja residence
There were gunshots on Wednesday in Abuja when Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State was leaving the residence of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had laid siege to Bello’s residence located at Wuse Zone 4, to arrest him in connection with a fraud case.
The security operatives had to call for reinforcement with backup from the police and Department of State Services (DSS) when it was becoming clear their mission would not be actualised after many hours.
The plan was to forcefully arrest the former governor as they cordoned off the residence on Benghazi Street.
They allowed Ododo into the residence. But by time he drove out, there were hints that Bello was in the car with tinted glass.
This made the security operatives to open fire.
The EFCC, in a statement later by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, warned that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
“Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
“Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years,” it stated.
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