NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday advised President Goodluck Jonathan against further increases in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, warning that such increases would collapse the government.

Reacting to President Jonathan’s claim that only the removal of fuel subsidy will allow for domestic refining of fuel, NLC in a statement by its President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, noted that President Jonathan’s claim was not only highly disturbing, but dishonest to Nigerians.

The statement contended that the January protests would seem a child’s play compared to what might follow any attempt to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry, which in government language meant increases in pump price of fuel.

According to the statement, “With the wave of revelations regarding monumental corruption in the Petroleum industry it will be unimaginable to contemplate any other thing than focusing on ridding the industry of the endemic corruption that has become so pervasive in the industry. Nigerians would love to see President Goodluck Jonathan dissipate energy on fighting corruption in the industry as he promised Nigerians. All those so far indicted in corrupt practices in the Fuel Subsidy scam have not yet been prosecuted. More revelations on corruption keep coming out by the day. The argument proffered that domestic refining of Petroleum products is only possible under private operators cannot be defended. Our refineries were built and operated successfully as fully public owned enterprises in the past until the industry was massively inflicted with corruption and home for corrupt government officials and their cronies, the refineries functioned well.”

“Today, the problem with the petroleum industry is largely lack of decency and political will on the part of the government to deal with those who have already been identified as having corruptly enriched themselves with funds meant for the industry. We believe Mr. President is not being honest with Nigerians about the real problems of the industry. The same President who set up several committees to identify the crisis in the industry and who have been given detailed reports by the committees cannot validly say he is still helpless. Some of the committees, including those set up by the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee led by Hon. Farouk Lawal identified not just the problems of the industry but specifically named individuals and companies who have diverted subsidies meant for the industry to private use. Majority of them are political associates of those in power. Indeed, the President has been seen severally hobnobbing in public with some of the key persons indicted by the reports.”

Continuing NLC said “In a decent society, all those who have been indicted by all the reports would have been facing accelerated prosecution or serving severe jail terms for committing economic crimes injurious to public interest. As at this moment, N1.7 trillion meant to subsidize the industry has been diverted by identified private individuals and companies and the government is not in any hurry to prosecute the alleged thieves. We can’t therefore understand why the President is in so much haste to inflict deeper poverty on Nigerians.’’

When government kept silent over the prevailing scarcity of petroleum products in the country, we alerted Nigerians that it was clear the government was testing grounds for further increases in fuel prices and we wish to reiterate our resolute rejection of such attempts.”

“No responsible government will allow private interests to hold her hostage against the collective interests of the people. It is becoming apparent that those in power seem more inclined serving individual interests than protecting our collective treasures. And we will massively mobilize Nigerians against his new anti people plans.

While the Department of Petroleum Resources of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum has the responsibility to ensure consumers are not shortchanged by marketers, the DPR, security and other government agencies watch helplessly as marketers sell far above the official rates.

They are even bold enough to display the unilaterally fixed new prices in their pump meters. These cannot be reigning under a serious government.”

“The crisis that will welcome any announcement of further withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products will be so monumental and so far reaching than envisaged by anyone.

The January protests would seem a child’s play compared to what might follow any attempt to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry.

This government has more than enough reports and details to commence a honest process of punishing those in illegal possession of our collective wealth rather than inflict more pains on Nigerians, while industries and virtually all public infrastructures have collapsed.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/another-fuel-hike-ll-collapse-your-govt-nlc-warns-jonathan/

NLC should clarify their position. Are they against deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry or are they simply against fuel price increase?

Besides, what made NLC think that the 'common man' trust them to champion any cause in this country especially after the fiasco in January, when they allowed themselves to be used by oil marketers and desperate politicians? Those who place their fate in NLC will only gnash their teeth afterwards.

In as much as government continues to pay fuel marketers subsidies, there will always to loopholes to be exploited by them and perhaps government to scam. Full deregulation of the downstream sector remains the best way to deal with subsidy scam, and free up funds for other use.

Subsidising consumption is a silly practice! Put the subsidy in production!

By the way are Okada riders not part of the labour unions? What have these unions done to address the daily harassment and death they face in the hands of Lagos State security agents?

Does NLC/TUC exist only to fight deregulation of downstream sector?

NLC should take a back seat right now cos they are totally irrelevant right now when it comes to helping the masses fight back against the government.. lets say total subsidy removal keeps the pump price at N140, and the government took that action, NLC strikes, government brings it back down to N120, NLC calls off the strike. please what good has that done for me and my family cos from the last i checked it moved up by N23, and the suffering continues and they (NLC) go to abuja all in the name of diplomatic dialogue and drink tea with the president and his cabinet and tell us on tv that "we are fighting for you, the masses". I am totally tired.

"Nigera would be great again" is a future impossible tense.

NLC | TUC might not get the support of the masses this time around. Their role in the January protest is still fresh in our minds...

Its gonna be every man for himself....

"The statement contended that tha January protest would seem a child's play compared to what might follow ant ATTEMPT to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry..."


Question to be asked is did NLC as led by Omar have any other option to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry? Subsidy removal in any part of the World is synonymous to price increase, so what is the NLC president whining about?

This was the same subsidy removal that was strongly resisted and rejected by Oshiomole as NLC president when Obasanjo attempted a partial removal of subsidy but is it not the same Oshiomole that is now championing the cause of subsidy removal today?

IMO, there is no alternative to deregulation and the NLC should rather channel its energy to reforms in the judiciary to ensure quick dispensation of justice so that the various probe reports alluded to by Omar can be easily and quickly dispensed with, this will go a long way to better off the country without making the citizens to be worse off.

Anoda holiday in january

Onye nwere nti ya nuru.

Nigeria spring in autumn

Isn't this the same people who asked us not to go to work in jan. n promise that they weren't going to settle for #100 per litre but settled for #97? What is the difference?
If johnny boy intends to set the price at #140 per litre, all he got to do is just scare this fools with #145 and he will have a bargain at 140.

I feel sorry for GEJ, who is
trapped between the Western
Oil companies and Nigerians. He
is trying to free Nigerians from
the bondage of economic ruin,
yet all he gets is abuse from the Nigerians he is trying to help.
When the revolution comes, one
assured outcome will be the loss
of the Niger Delta and with it
the so called fuel subsidy. We
will learn, over the bodies of our neighbors, brothers, pregnant
wives and sisters how to think
clearly and know our real
interests.
No group of intelligent honest
people be they NNPC, FGN can go and forcefully steal oil from the
oil producing communities with
the help of the IOCs. Only
looters can do it over the
protests of MEND, the Ogoni,
Ikwerre, and other oil producing communities. These
looters FGN and the oil
companies will never, never ever
be honest with Nigerians. One
would think after the Farouk
Lawan saga that our people will learn the bitter truth about
the so called fuel subsidy.

PointB: NLC should clarify their position. Are they against deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry or are they simply against fuel price increase?

Besides, what made NLC think that the 'common man' trust them to champion any cause in this country especially after the fiasco in January, when they allowed themselves to be used by oil marketers and desperate politicians? Those who place their fate in NLC will only gnash their teeth afterwards.

In as much as government continues to pay fuel marketers subsidies, there will always to loopholes to be exploited by them and perhaps government to scam. Full deregulation of the downstream sector remains the best way to deal with subsidy scam, and free up funds for other use.

Subsidising consumption is a silly practice! Put the subsidy in production!

What do you mean by " free up funds for other use"
Hmm, for other corrupt govt officials.

PointB: NLC should clarify their position. Are they against deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry or are they simply against fuel price increase?

Besides, what made NLC think that the 'common man' trust them to champion any cause in this country especially after the fiasco in January, when they allowed themselves to be used by oil marketers and desperate politicians? Those who place their fate in NLC will only gnash their teeth afterwards.

In as much as government continues to pay fuel marketers subsidies, there will always to loopholes to be exploited by them and perhaps government to scam. Full deregulation of the downstream sector remains the best way to deal with subsidy scam, and free up funds for other use.

Subsidising consumption is a silly practice! Put the subsidy in production!

What do you mean by " free up funds for other use"
Hmm, for other corrupt govt officials.

PointB: NLC should clarify their position. Are they against deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry or are they simply against fuel price increase?

Besides, what made NLC think that the 'common man' trust them to champion any cause in this country especially after the fiasco in January, when they allowed themselves to be used by oil marketers and desperate politicians? Those who place their fate in NLC will only gnash their teeth afterwards.

In as much as government continues to pay fuel marketers subsidies, there will always to loopholes to be exploited by them and perhaps government to scam. Full deregulation of the downstream sector remains the best way to deal with subsidy scam, and free up funds for other use.

Subsidising consumption is a silly practice! Put the subsidy in production!

People like you are the one responsible for the persistency in the backwardness of the country Nigeria. This is a commendable attempt by your NLC in confronting the Fed. govt against unnecessary price hike in fuel, aimed at the collective interest of the nationales and you're here uttering trashes. Rise and motivate Nigerians to fight for their right. Your govt should erode corruption from its political dispensation rather than, instigating the afflictions inflicted on the citizens by poverty.

PointB: NLC should clarify their position. Are they against deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry or are they simply against fuel price increase?

Besides, what made NLC think that the 'common man' trust them to champion any cause in this country especially after the fiasco in January, when they allowed themselves to be used by oil marketers and desperate politicians? Those who place their fate in NLC will only gnash their teeth afterwards.

In as much as government continues to pay fuel marketers subsidies, there will always to loopholes to be exploited by them and perhaps government to scam. Full deregulation of the downstream sector remains the best way to deal with subsidy scam, and free up funds for other use.

Subsidising consumption is a silly practice! Put the subsidy in production!

People like you are the one responsible for the persistency in the backwardness of the country Nigeria. This is a commendable attempt by your NLC in confronting the Fed. govt against unnecessary price hike in fuel, aimed at the collective interest of the nationales and you're here uttering trashes. Rise and motivate Nigerians to fight for their right. Your govt should erode corruption from its political dispensation rather than, instigating the afflictions inflicted on the citizens by poverty.

NLC and TUC........shut up your shameless and traitorish mouth, you unions are thieves, your members have killed PHCN and all the government organs that are meant to give us a better life. Do you think we have forgotten your backstabbing in January of this year?

Try am, I will mobilise to stone you if u come out. I will only support an independent protest.

Again, the talk about subsidy should not have dropped out of jona's mouth at this sensitive time of the year. He will only invite the marketers to hoard the products in anticipation of a hike in January.. Nigerians should get ready for a period of scarcity. Retardocracy!

Let the drama begins!!!


I dey laugh!!!

If increase in fuel price will collapse this hopeless & evil govt, i'm 100% in support.

Maxymilliano: "The statement contended that tha January protest would seem a child's play compared to what might follow ant ATTEMPT to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry..."


Question to be asked is did NLC as led by Omar have any other option to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry? Subsidy removal in any part of the World is synonymous to price increase, so what is the NLC president whining about?

This was the same subsidy removal that was strongly resisted and rejected by Oshiomole as NLC president when Obasanjo attempted a partial removal of subsidy but is it not the same Oshiomole that is now championing the cause of subsidy removal today?

IMO, there is no alternative to deregulation and the NLC should rather channel its energy to reforms in the judiciary to ensure quick dispensation of justice so that the various probe reports alluded to by Omar can be easily and quickly dispensed with, this will go a long way to better off the country without making the citizens to be worse off.

They may be no option to full deregulation of the downstream sector in the long run but what palliative measures have the government put on ground before embarking on full deregulation? What has the government done with the price differential of 32naira? Nothing.
A country like China who import most of its crude oil for refining recently reduced the price of petroleum products, why is Nigeria with its abundant oil attempting to increase price of petroleum products? Many OPEC states are into State capitalism, where government own refineries so why is our government not copying them? This government is simply bereft of ideas

The threat to pull down Jonny Boy government with fuel price increase protest is very lame - indeed a joke There is no history of such in Nigeria, and there will never be until Nigeria is one, and that will not happen, as shown January for sake of fuel pump price increase.

If NLC calls for their jamboree, GEJ will flood the streets and venue with soldiers and armoured tanks, a tried and tested template. Prior to that, I would have called and warned my friends and relatives not to join the protests, just to hear their reassuring, 'Join for what, I have better things to do with my time'?

NLC welcome to your 20 Naira protest, you will walk alone! Deregulation MUST happen!!

Jonathan is really inconsiderate,he does ill-advised things,he's really a schnook, and to the people that voted him and now grumbling,to h_ell with them all cos they brought this pain to the whole nation and not to them only.

NLC president Omar, and TUC president Peter Esele are sell outs !!! I will never support any form of protest from this blood sucking vampires. Its high time the youth replicate the nigerian version of the Arab spring by annihilating this 'misfortune' called Jonathan

The NLC/TUC is wrong. Subsidy's got to go and the refineries privatized. If we don't do this, we'll only continue to fuel the corruption and inefficiency in the petroleum sector. GEJ is wrong about many things ( notably his view on State Police), but he's got this one spot on.

Only the idealist will join NLC/TUC on this one. If we really want to move forward in this sector, the subsidy gotta go.

Haha. Gej is playing with this country of our, if the government push us to the wall we shall backfire to them. Bleep NLC Bleep THE GOVERNMENT Bleep U ALL. Mctew

I wonder whose interest NLC is fighting for. Fuel had been selling between 120 and 130 across Nigeria for the past three months and they did not protest, now what is the difference between the subsidy price of N141

Jonathan's Destiny is to destroy Nigeria....

Nigerians shud rise against dis govt or any govt dat dnt mean well 4 d people.wat ve dey don wit d moni generated 4m d removal of partial subsidy? Wat hapend to all d moni budgeted 4 TAM of our refineries? Even @ 97 we cn buy fuel,is dis d fresh air we were promisd?

canadianprince:

People like you are the one responsible for the persistency in the backwardness of the country Nigeria. This is a commendable attempt by your NLC in confronting the Fed. govt against unnecessary price hike in fuel, aimed at the collective interest of the nationales and you're here uttering trashes. Rise and motivate Nigerians to fight for their right. Your govt should erode corruption from its political dispensation rather than, instigating the afflictions inflicted on the citizens by poverty.

My guy, it's actually people like you who are responsible for retar.ded growth of this country! People like me are trying to salvage it. What made you think that new sets of fuel subsidy thieves will not emerge if the current ones are jailed or even shot? Has the death of an armed robber stopped more armed robbers joining the fatal trade? Has capital punishment prevented 'capital' crimes? Why face the symptom instead of the ailment? Do you know how many fuel protest I have participated in my lifetime? How many more must I participate in, and when will it stop? To do same thing over and over again and expect a different result in the beginning of insanity.

The answer lies just there in the open - remove the subsidy and the problem (fuel subsidy scam) disappear! Deregulate the downstream sector or keep protesting every year for 20 Naira price reduction!

NLC IS ANOTHER SCAM. ITS TIME TO OPEN OUR EYES AND KICK OUT PDP.

Waz d retardeen dat calls himsef d NLC president sayin? We ® xpectin dem 2 act foolish dis comin year again,bur God on ourside we go conquer dem...

Even d N97 of a tin,stil inflict sufferin in2 d lives of mani citizen... Am nt complainin,cos I can avoid it.. But Wat abt zo mani pple whu can't afford it,most of my distance family member can't afford it eida..

Let dem du wateva dey wanna du,Nigeria citizens ® born husslers.. We will surely survive n laff @ it all...

Wif all dia stealins,dey ® stil nt beta dan us.. D way we walk freely,dey cnt because of dia conscience.. N I pray dat who so ever as inflicted pain on us,in one way or d oda will surely vomit it by God's grace.. N dey shall go tru pains n dia next 10 generation will alzo go tru d pain by God's special grace.. Amen

Majority of Our Pastors, Reverends, Priests, Bishops, Prophets, Imams etc keep silent even when oppressive and corrupt leaders bare their fangs on the masses. All they care about is their tithes and offerings....

Nigerians!!! Open ur eyes and see!!!!
Nobody cares!!
Ur leaders don't care...
Ur Religious leaders don't care...
Ur neighbors don't care....
Ur kinsmen don't care....

you're on ur own, and will always ßξ!!!

Military should take over permanently in Nigeria!