May 26, 2015
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) said on Saturday it would stand strongly in support of the federal government’s resolve to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
The declaration of support by the aircraft pilots and engineers came barely few hours after the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; Trade Union Congress, TUC and their affiliates and allies in the civil society issued a 96-hour ultimatum to government to rescind the decision or face the wrath of their members.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, told reporters in Abuja that the policy, which resulted in the hike in petrol price from N86.50 per litre to N145, was rejected because it was “unrealistic, unaffordable, and unacceptable.”
But, NAAPE, in a contrasting opinion, described the deregulation policy as a step in the right direction, pointing out that although it was long overdue, it was better late than never.
National President, Isaac Balami, who commended the government for the bold decision, said the subsidy scheme was extremely fraud-prone, adding that trying to reform the process was like “attempting to reform Satan (devil) – an impossibility task”.
“Our advice to the government is to use the money that will be saved to put in place infrastructures that will create jobs for Nigerians; ensuring that our refineries are working optimally, and encouraging local production to ameliorate the temporary hardship the citizen are going through,” Mr. Balami said.
He said the operators in the aviation industry, government must begin the refining of the aviation fuel, popularly called Jet A1 from the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries, to help reduce the costs of operation and flight tickets, since fuel alone constituted about 30 to 40 per cent of operational cost.
Mr. Balami said government should also look into the issue of establishing a national carrier as promised or strengthen the local domestic carriers as soon as possible, as the industry was currently at a standstill.

kYjelly2:
bet osinbajo said, price hike is because of currency, not removal of subsidy

145 naira for petrol!! I'm still working on believing this shhh

When I was pumping my gas today, I just kept staring, gawking even, at that price per liter, 145 and smh

jmichlins:
This strike action is bound to fail especially now many member associations are pulling out or else the masses take it upon themselves to make it work but sadly the masses are hungry and do not trust the NLC leaders

7lives:


You mean the masses that are being ripped apart by the oil cabals?.
Never again will I buy fuel for 250 naira in this country while marketers are busy collecting subsidy, eye don open.

7lives:


You mean the masses that are being ripped apart by the oil cabals?.
Never again will I buy fuel for 250 naira in this country while marketers are busy collecting subsidy, eye don open.

jmichlins:
mate the masses are made to pay for the irresponsible attitudes of the government. The glutton attitude of the government are what we are forced to pay for. Senators will still buy cars and will still collect clothing allowance. Cut down on recurrent expenses of the government then we can fix our refinaries and build new ones and no one will talk about subsidies.

tuale4u:


he is partially correct. because d new price is base on 285naira to a dollar.

modath:


No two ways about it... Ministers looking for 20m houses are free to resign, unnecessary convoy for airport shuttle should be a thing of the past, Bubu has no reason to hold on to those jets, if he isn't getting fair market value, he should lobby some rich Nigerians to lease them...

The belt tightening should be across board not only the poor masses that didn't benefit beyond the ordinary when the 100$+ P.B Crude price baazaar was going on..

P.S... As for NASS cutting down, forget it, it's never going to happen...

If NLC were really serious, they would pressure NASS to open the Budget to public scrutiny, Even Ben Bruce that blew hot air about making public their earnings has developed amnesia about that promise!

tuale4u:


he is partially correct. because d new price is base on 285naira to a dollar.

TonyeBarcanista:
Nigerians must endure Buhari and kick him out in 2019

TonyeBarcanista:
Nigerians must endure Buhari and kick him out in 2019

haywire07:
Who wan lose him job cos he join strike .

Anybody dat wants to join d strike Shld join ,make baba sack dem and replace dem wit us