President Goodluck Jonathan this morning announced that the Federal Government has reduced the price of petrol from N141 to N97, just as he directed the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to ensure that petroleum marketers comply with the new price regime.
In a nationwide broadcast to the country, the president, who accused some politicians and other interest groups of going beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy to hijack the protests, noted that he took the decision after consulting widely with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly.
Jonathan said, “However, given the hardship being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has been directed to ensure compliance with this new pump price.
Before now, there had been allegation from government quarters that some politicians and civil society groups, as well as political elements were using the platform of Labour on the controversy generated by the fuel subsidy removal to whip up political sentiment.
“It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy have hijacked the protests. This has prevented an objective assessment and consideration of all the contending issues for which dialogue was initiated by government.
“These same interests seek to promote discord, anarchy, and insecurity to the detriment of public peace,” Jonathan said.
Appealing to Nigerians to return to work and commence their normal daily activities, the president said, “My dear compatriots, I urge you to show understanding for the imperatives of the adjustment in the pump price of petrol and give government your full support to ensure its successful implementation.
“I further appeal to Nigerians to go back to work and go about their normal duties as government has made adequate arrangements for the protection of lives and property throughout the federation”.
Noting that as President, he had sworn to uphold the unity, peace and order of the Nigerian State and that he intends to fully and effectively discharge that responsibility, the president hinted that he was desirous of further engagements with Labour, just as he urged “Labour leaders to call off their strike, and go back to work.”
LABOUR INSISTS ON STRIKE WITHOUT STREET PROTEST
But inspite of the partial rapprochement yesterday night between the Federal Government and organised labour, the latter has said the strike continues today. It however stated that it had suspended all street protests and rallies.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Abdulwaheed Omar speaking on the outcome of their meeting asked Nigerians to continue the strike but without protests and rallies on the grounds that security reports have it that some miscreants are planning to hijack the strike and perpetrate violence that may lead to loss of lives and property.
Speaking at about 12: 55am yesterday at the Labour House after a marathon meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Omar said that the president appealed to labour to show understanding of the situation.
Omar said: The President expressed some serious concerns about issues of national security; he has also now expressed that based on the fact that there are calls by Nigerians about the abrupt nature of the imposition of deregulation, the president told us that he has decided to put on hold the issue of full deregulation pending the position of certain issues, especially in the areas of palliatives and also agrees that labour dialogues with the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee as regards other issues that underlie the whole issue of deregulation and fuel subsidy.
Also, before the president finally settled down to talks with the labour group, he had held a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly and state governors to discuss the way forward on the fuel subsidy withdrawal controversy.
ALISON-MADUEKE ASKS EFCC TO PROBE SUBSIDY FRAUD
But in another twist to the subsidy crisis, President Jonathan, yesterday, approved a request by Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, seeking to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe and prosecute any incidence of fraud, over-invoicing, malfeasance and illegalities pertaining to payment of subsidies the price of petroleum products.
Accordingly, Alison-Madueke has written a letter to the Acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, asking him to review all payments made in respect of subsidies on PMS and Kerosene.
In a statement signed by the minister and made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday night, Alison-Madueke also noted that she had also “set up a unit within her office to be headed by an independent auditor to review the KPMG and other audit reports on NNPC and other parastatals and immediately begin implementation of their findings, ensuring, at all times, full probity and value for money.”
The statement reads in part: “With presidential approval, I have written to invite the EFCC to immediately review all payments made in respect of subsidies on PMS and Kerosene and to take all necessary steps to prosecute any incidence of malfeasance, fraud, over-invoicing, and related illegalities in an open and transparent manner.
“I am en-paneling another unit in my office to begin a comprehensive review of the management and controls within all parastatals in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, including but not limited to NNPC, PPPRA, and DPR. Accordingly, I expect a report in 30 days to enable us take further action in reforming management, personnel and other practices and procedures in parastatals within the ministry.
The minister added that she will be meeting with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives this week “to seek their co-operation and leadership in the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill so that we can anchor the comprehensive reform of the oil industry”.
BABANGIDA CALLS FOR TRUE FEDERALISM
And just as a lasting truce was being sought for the subsidy crisis, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida counseled President Goodluck Jonathan to bite the bullet and undertake a fundamental structural reengineering of the state to put it on a sustainable footing for civilised survival.
Babangida, who lauded the maturity exhibited by protesters, identified power devolution, fiscal federalism, a unicameral legislature, transparent governance and a lean bureacracy as key areas such restructuring must address.
His words: “I have also sat back to do some sober reflections on the challenges which this strike action has thrown up with particular reference to the structure of the Federation. If my opinion will not be misconstrued again by government spin-doctors and naysayers, I would rather call on President Goodluck Jonathan to seize the moment by legitimately embarking on complete restructuring of the country in order to put into practice the real principles of a Federation.
“Under our present arrangement, our skewed federalist status has brought about series of role conflicts between the Federal Government and the federating units. There is too much power concentration at the center, thus weakening the comparative abilities of the federating units at generating wealth for their constituents.
“History will be kind on Mr. President if he takes this bold step at ensuring the practice of true federalism. My very honest advice is that President Goodluck Jonathan should commence the process of devolving powers from the center to the federating units; states and local governments; in order to gain sufficient time and concentration on several other developmental issues that would help move the nation forward.”
ATIKU SEEKS SPEEDY RESOLUTION
Also in a statement, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar advised the Federal Government and organised labour, alongside the civil society leaders to find a mutually agreeable settlement to the subsidy matter in the larger interest of Nigerians suffering the additional burden of hardship the strike had imposed since it began a week ago.
Reacting to the lingering crisis, the ex-vice-president said the two sides had a responsibility to show flexibility rather than adopting a maximalist posture on their demand.
He however condemned the killings by the security agents and the violence, arson unleashed on public and private property by a section of the protesters.
Urging for restraint by both parties, he advised labour leaders not to allow criminal elements to infiltrate their ranks and discredit the essence of their legitimate peaceful protest.
ACN DECRIES SECTIONALISING SUBSIDY CRISIS
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has decried perceived moves to sectionalise the current fuel subsidy removal crisis, saying rather, the Federal Government has failed to show the required leadership to address the many crises bedeviling the country.
In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party made specific reference to newspaper advertisements by several Ijaw and South-South groups containing what it termed ‘inflammatory rhetoric’ to buttress its point.
Appraising the situation further, the ACN called on prominent Nigerians to call on “President Jonathan to order before he allows those who have other agenda, or those who are championing neo-colonial interests, to doom his Presidency and push the country into perdition.
“Simply put, Nigerians feel betrayed by this President by the way he has handled these issues, hence he has lost their trust and confidence. This is neither a South-South Vs the rest of the regions issue, or the result of an incitement by imagined enemies,’’ the ACN said.
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