The? Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan, Rev Dr Felix Alaba Job has advised the federal government to suspend immediately the proposed removal of oil subsidy.
This was just as he said that instead it should reduce the cost of governance by slashing the salaries and allowances of public office holders.
Speaking with Journalists after the graduation ceremony of 20 youths from the Oluponna Fish farming Education and Resource Centre owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan yesterday,? Job maintained that the proposal was ill- timed.
He said,”the removal of the oil subsidy would worsen the situation of? ordinary Nigerians who find it very difficult to survive with the present situation in the country”.
He said that instead of the removal of the subsidy, the government should reduce the cost of governance, particularly the political office holders who are not only eaten fat on the economy but are making less sacrifice to the country”.
The Archbishop said,”to me as an individual, the proposed removal of oil subsidy by the federal government is ill- conceived and ill- timed because removal of oil subsidy in order to pay minimum? wage is a wrong argument.
“The reality is that there is no money in this country. The distribution of our financial resources is not equitably done and badly managed.
In this country only a few individuals are giving undue privileges over the majority.
“We are yet to be told what the nation pays monthly as salaries and security votes to our President and his Vice, the Governors and their deputies, Local Government chairmen and their vices as well as the legislators at all levels not to talk of what they get as out of station allowances among others,” he added.
In her remarks, the Executive Director and General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, ESSO Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mrs Gloria Essien-Dannar disclosed that since the recruitment and training programmes began in the farm, the company had invested over #25 million.
“We are pleased to announce that we are again funding recruitment and training of 20 youths for the 2011/20112 training.”
She said that the company was convinced that the training provided an opportunity for youths to acquire relevant skills in agricultural development and production and added that it also enhances their capacities by drawing on their strengths and passions.
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