The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, and northern youths, under the umbrella of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN yesterday have opposed the federal government’s planned removal of subsidy on petrol and its decision to secure an $800 million World Bank facility as a palliative.
An official of NLC, yesterday, said the NLC movement stands on its initial position that there could be no subsidy removal without local refining of crude to avert the importation of petrol.
“We have nothing to do with petrol subsidy removal, neither do we have any business with the $800 million secured from the World Bank for palliatives. We have told the government what to do and we have also let them know that we will not accept the removal of subsidy without locally refining the product in the country,’’ he said.
Reacting in the same vein, The Trade Union Congress, TUC, rejected both subsidy removal and the government’s $800 million palliative to cushion its effects, saying the Federal Government was on its own.
TUC’s Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, said Organised Labour never had any discussion with the Federal Government on palliatives.
He said: “This is another neocolonialism tactic by the World Bank to hold Nigeria, the hostage. It is shocking to hear that the Federal Government has secured $800 million for the so-called palliatives.
“The government did not discuss with Organised Labour palliatives. The government is on its own.
“There is no doubt that our country’s debt burden and high-interest rate will be worsened by this development. We have made it clear that the government must fix our refineries and address the issue of the local refining capacity of Nigeria.”
Also reacting yesterday, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, speaking through its Director-General, Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA said fixing local refineries must be the pre-condition for the removal of subsidy.
Oyerinde said: “We commend the efforts of the Federal Government in its bid to provide support to millions of Nigerians who would be affected by the eventual subsidy removal. We must also commend the World Bank for considering Nigeria worthy of the grant.
“It is without a doubt that an abrupt removal of the subsidy without any aid to cushion the hardship this would heap on the masses, especially the most vulnerable in the society, could lead to extreme forms of poverty.
“While we support the removal of fuel subsidy and also commend the support of the World Bank, we believe government should not shy away from the fundamental issues. These issues include fixing the refineries as a pre-condition for the removal of subsidies.
“We cannot over-emphasize that government must stop using scarce resources to fix policy problems. It is both unrealistic and unsustainable. The subsidy regime is a scam and has not in any way benefit the so-called “vulnerable” citizens.
‘’Therefore, it makes no economic sense to inject cash in the form of palliatives into an economy that is already beset with unending inflationary pressures.
Furthermore, Northern youths yesterday expressed their opposition to the proposed removal of fuel subsidy, and threatened mass action against the policy should the Federal Government go ahead with it.
The council in a statement issued by the President, Isah Abubakar, expressed fears that any palliative measures put in place to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal would be looted by corrupt government officials as they did with COVID-19 palliatives.
It called on the federal government to reconsider its decision to remove the subsidy, arguing that it would only lead to an increase in the cost of living for the average Nigerian who was already struggling to make ends meet.
“We cannot afford to have another round of hardship inflicted on the Nigerian people, especially the youth, who are already grappling with a high unemployment rate and lack of opportunities,” the council said.
It warned that there would be severe political consequences on those conspiring to throw Nigerians into avoidable crisis. The council vowed to resist any attempt to remove the fuel subsidy and called on other youth organizations across the country to join in the fight to protect the interests of the Nigerian people.
