Against dissenting voices of Nigerians and massive protests by trade and labour unions, governors of the 36 states of the federation yesterday declared that they were fully behind federal government’s decision to remove fuel subsidy.
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This was one of the major issues raised and deliberated on at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In attendance were almost all the 36 state governors of the federation, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, minister of finance and minister of National Planning.
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?Briefing State House Correspondents immediately after the meeting alongside his Zamfara, Cross River, Ondo, Anambra, ?Adamawa counterparts and minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, Chairman of the Governor’s Forum and River State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, also disclosed that although the issue of Sovereign Wealth FundSWF) was discussed, decision on it was deferred.
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He said, “All of us have just finished a meeting of the National Economic Council and several decisions were reached. Various views were canvassed and decisions reached. One of the most important issues that we canvassed and decision reached was that governors supported the federal government’s move to remove fuel subsidy because we believe it is in the interest of this country.”
We will save money for the development of the economy and at the end of the day, we will provide opportunity for the greater number of people.
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“So, whichever discussion that will escalate the conversation, we are ready for discussion. We are open to discussions and we are open to the fact that there are social safety nets that the federal government is trying to put in place to cushion the effect. But beyond the fact that the federal government is putting up safety nets to cushion the effect, there is also the argument that only a few Nigerians are just gathering money and we are hearing of subsidy. For Christ’s sake, outside the few state capitals in Nigeria, which other place do you have this subsidy operating? I hear some states in the South East are selling fuel for as high as over N100 per litre”.
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He further said, “Fuel is being smuggled out of the country and the people of Nigeria are suffering and then some elites pick up the conversation that we are insensitive to the people. Do you think that politicians who will go four years after with this new electoral process will become insensitive to Nigerians? The answer is absolute no. So we wait for the conversation and we will meet them at the point of the debate’.
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On how to cushion the effect, Amaechi added: “To take it further, none of you journalists have asked the question or to take it further that the moment you liberalise or deregulate the oil industry, then you will provide opportunities for people to invest in refineries and create employment opportunities. Nobody has picked up that argument and that is why we are saying that for all those who said they are opposition, either parties or individuals, the federal government and the governor’s forum are ready to engage them in that discussion any day and anywhere if anybody comes up with that, because there are so many benefits that will accrue to the people.
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“Nigerians are dying of hunger on the streets when we can liberalise or deregulate the oil industry and create more employment opportunities. Most people do not know that from crude oil, you can get a number of other products that is another aspect of economic development and nobody has addressed that. When you talk about sensitivity, you must realise that this is informing our decision. Beyond the fact that a few of us elites are benefitting from this huge poll of fund that no one can account for, the aim is to create a conducive environment to explore the opportunity.
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He however assured that government was ready to engage the labour unions. “There is the need to engage the labour unions and for the people to ask what the state and federal government want to do with the outcome of the removal of the subsidy, they should ask specifically what will be the benefits of the removal and how it will improve on the lives of the people, if that is the essence of the dialogue, instead of allowing a few people to benefit from it”.
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On the SWF, he said, “I am sure you want to hear about the sovereign wealth fund, it was discussed. We deferred decision, the issues were properly canvassed and we are of the view that there is a dialogue in process.
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“The governors met yesterday and took a position. It is the federal government trying to convince the governors to abandon their positions. We are satisfied that it is a conversation we don’t want to escalate. Let’s look at all the issues and when all the issues are on the table and the governors are convinced, we will take a decision. But as of whether a decision has been reached, no decision has been made”.
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The governor further said other issues discussed at the meeting included education and and the need to develop agriculture at the state level with necessary support from the federal government as well as the issue of ETF and UBEC and how to get them to support education in the different states.
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“We also accepted the need for the setting up of the planning and research and statistics department aimed at capacity building is included in that development. And we are to work with the federal government and the national planning commission in that regard so that we will have our people trained and their abilities improved upon”, he noted.
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Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, while hinting on the SWF, said
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