NLC Holds Jonathan Government Liable for Ilorin Murder, Says It Lied on Subsidy
Posted: January 3, 2012 - 18:22
Pro-subsidy youth protester killed
By SaharaReporters, New York

In the strongest language ever employed by organized labour against a sitting government in Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), today called the presidency of President Goodluck Jonathan a liar.

In a press statement in which the NLC held the Jonathan liable for murder in the death of an anti-fuel price hike protester in Ilorin, its President, Abdulwahed I. Omar, described as a “blatant lie” the claim by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati that Labour is in support of the subsidy removal.

“No one would have believed that the revered office of the President could stoop so low to tell a lie,” Mr. Omar said, and announced that tomorrow, the NLC and TUC will issue a clear directive on the upcoming coordinated nationwide action against the new policy.

Concerning the killing in Ilorin today, he recalled that the NLC previously cautioned the Jonathan administration against the use of brute force and arms against unarmed Nigerians who publicly demonstrate their rejection of its murderous policy of hiking fuel prices by between 120 and 200 per cent.

The yet-to-be-identified victim was shot near the Post Office in central Ilorin, Kwara State, and left on the street without any medical attention by the police which might have saved his life.  The NLC said the armed policemen responsible were from the Area A Division, close to UBA Ilorin and the State Police Command along Sulu Gambari Road, Ilorin.

“The Police is directly under the control and command of the Presidency and it is the Jonathan administration’s inhuman policy that has resulted in the murder of an innocent citizen,” the statement said. “The NLC holds the Jonathan administration liable for this murder and advises it to fish out its agents who shot protesters in Ilorin and bring them to justice.”

On the Justice Belgore committee set up yesterday by Jonathan purportedly to dialogue with Labour, the NLC leader described it as “an afterthought and meant to give Nigerians the impression that the Government wants to consult Nigerians.”

Tracing labour’s previous contacts with the government on the issue, Mr. Omar said as follows: “First, the Presidency had invited Labour to a follow-up discussion on the issue of fuel subsidy removal only for it to abort the process by removing the subsidy.  Secondly, it announced to Nigerians that it was consulting them on the issue only for it to announce new PMS prices.

Thirdly, the government announced that even if the subsidy is to be removed, it will be from April 1, 2012 only for it to carry out same on January 1, 2012.”

He noted further that the attacks on peaceful demonstrators, the arrests in Abuja and today’s murder of a peaceful protester by the police do not portray a government that is interested in dialogue and peaceful negotiations.

With reference to the Christopher Kolade Committee on the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Mr. Omar said Labour was seeking a legal opinion as to the constitutionality of spending public funds without appropriation by the National Assembly. 

BIGER BOY:

And it is this same government that wants us to trust it with the savings from the subsidy.
Let those who don't know, know.
SUBSIDY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE
BUT OVER OUR DEAD BODY SHOULD A WE TRUST THIS GOVT WITH A PACK OF CANDIES, LET ALONE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SAVINGS

New pump price can’t be implemented – NBA



Written by Adelanwa Bamgboye Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:00

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday said the association was still consulting on the next step to take over the sudden removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, even as it said increment cannot be implemented.

NBA President Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) told Daily Trust on phone that the issue was no longer that of whether the removal of the fuel subsidy was illegal or not but how many people can afford the price.

He said lawyers in the country are not in support of the removal of fuel subsidy, adding that “the over 100 per cent increment placed on fuel pump price after the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government cannot be implemented.”

According to him, “only a very few people that are not up to .003 of the population can afford to buy petrol at the over 200 per cent increase in price. Government is adamant in the quest to remove this subsidy. The people are equally resolved in its opposition to the removal of subsidy.”

The NBA President said Nigeria is up for rough times ahead and that the time has come for a final determination whether those in Government derive their power from the people or whether they are independent and owe their stay in power to other entities other than the people.

“We foresee a victory and liberation for the people of Nigeria, while those pushing for deregulation in the present form will depart with more than a bloodied nose,” he said.

[size=14pt]“Throughout the Obasanjo Administration and up to the close of the Yar’adua Administration subsidy did not exceed N300 billion. How it has now shot up to N1.3 trillion or thereabout without any corresponding increase in the supply of PMS remains a matter for serious inquiry,” he said.
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BIGER BOY:

And it is this same government that wants us to trust it with the savings from the subsidy.
Let those who don't know, know.
SUBSIDY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE
BUT OVER OUR DEAD BODY SHOULD A WE TRUST THIS GOVT WITH A PACK OF CANDIES, LET ALONE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SAVINGS

frosbel:

Here they go again, GEJ bashers !!

frosbel:

Here they go again, GEJ bashers !!

Rhino.5dm:

is that all? You should have yeilded to the request of going back to the religion section. I doubt, if the Athiest or catholics or Muslim terrorist wont complete their works on you.

As you can see, we are discussing politics, Nigerian politics for that matter and not some first century middle eastern scriptures.

The PPPRA boss however disclosed that the nation spent N3.655 trillion on fuel subsidies between 2006 and September 2011.

[size=14pt]Total of what was paid as subsidy between 2006 to date was put at 3.655 trillion Naira with the committee unable to reconcile the sudden jump in the subsidy figure in 2011, almost half of which was incurred in the first nine months of this year.[/size]

The Senate committee discovered that some of the beneficiaries who claim to be oil marketers did not meet the guidelines spelt out for prospective oil importers eligible to benefit from the subsidy fund, saying most of them made false claims, thereby constituting big drains on the nation's oil and gas industry.

According to the guidelines, prospective beneficiaries are expected to be registered oil marketing companies who must provide proven ownership of fuel storage facilities or tank farms (petrol depots) of not less than 5000 metric tones.

It was however discovered that while only 11 marketers own storage facilities, the remaining were "throughput" (sharing depots with filling stations) and some were registered construction companies.

frosbel:

Is that the best you can come up with

Yes politics , but not the beer palour or market square sort, proper politics for grown up men.

And were it not for the first century middle eastern scriptures, you will probably have no access to knowledge, science and the technology which you are using as we speak.