Governor Godswill O. Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has pledged to assist transport owners in the state to ease the tension generated by the subsidy removal.
He has therefore called on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal government to embrace dialogue in resolving issues concerning the nation-wide strike caused by the recent fuel subsidy removal.
Akpabio, who made the made the pledge yesterday in Uyo during a meeting with stakeholders in the transport sector said the federal government should listen to the people.
The fuel subsidy removal he noted had heightened tension in the country and should be properly handled.
“I wish the people would understand President Goodluck Jonathan. We have to sit down and dialogue for no leader wants to inflict pains on his people. What we should now discuss is to ensure that subsidy or no subsidy, things should move on well in thecountry.
‘’If we subsidise our own petroleum product by building our refinery, our children would be employed. We need to do something differently to improve our present situation. The subsidy we have today is the source of corruption and such must be removed’’, the governor stated.
Akpabio used the occasion to thank the stakeholders in the transport sector for returning sanity to roads in the state coupled with reduction of transport fares, which according to him was a patriotic act to abate the sufferings of the people.