Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has described as unacceptable Federal Government’s plan to re-introduce toll gates on Nigeria roads.
This was the resolution of the union after it National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, last weekend.
The Union in a communiqué signed by Mr N. Aboribo, also reaffirmed its opposition to government plan to remove subsidy in petroleum because the time was not ripe for the policy.
SSANU added that government must immediately ensure that the nation’s ailing refineries are made optimally functional and new ones built,? as well as making sure the nation’s highways are fully rehabilitated before talking about removing the subsidy.
The communiqué reads in part: “NEC-in-session also called on the Government to immediately probe the huge amount so far looted from the nation’s treasury under the guise of “subsidy” on petroleum products and asks the Nigerian Senate not to sweep its own probe on the matter under the carpet.
The body expressed regret over the number of lives lost and property destroyed as a result of insecurity in the country and therefore called on the Government to address the various security challenges around the country with renewed vigour.
“Security operatives should take pro-active measures, and not allow the security situation to deeply degenerate before coming up with their fire-brigade approaches which merely scratch the problems on the surface instead of solving them,” it said, and urged the government not to shy away from prosecuting the perpetrators of the criminal acts.
The labour union also frowned at the alarming rate of poverty in the land, particularly orchestrated by large scale corruption in public places, and therefore advised government to sincerely renew the fight against corruption with vigour. It called for the establishment of special courts to try corrupt officials.
“A situation whereby corrupt leaders and their cronies move about freely soon after they leave office leaves much to be desired,” it said.
The union also expressed dismay at the plan by the federal government to re-introduce toll gates on Nigerian highways, saying it would further aggravate the already parlous economic conditions of the ordinary Nigerians as it will further increase transportation cost with its ‘multiplier effect.”