The source said: “In his
contribution, Falana said with
the ongoing reform of the
PPPRA, it has become evident
that about N1.3trillion that
Nigeria is spending on fuel
subsidy is far more than it
should be.
“He said the list of over 138
beneficiaries of oil imports has
suddenly been trimmed to about
42 who have depots. He said if a
clean up of the system is done,
the fuel subsidy can be
affordable for the country.
“He also asked the President to
learn from the withdrawal of
subsidy for food items and
commodities in the 90s. He said
today Nigeria is spending
trillions of Naira to import food
items.
“Falana also suggested that
since neigbouring countries like
Senegal, Niger have refineries
which are operating below
capacity, Nigeria should refine
its crude at lesser cost from
these neighbouring nations
pending the time it will fix its
refineries.
“On his part, Agbakoba asked
the government to look inward
to fund its projects. He said from
shipping alone, Nigeria can earn
N7trillion per annum.
“He urged the government to
learn from President Barrack
Obama who is taxing the rich to
save the middle class.”
“ Anikko Briggs from Bayelsa
State reminded the President
that the poor in the Niger Delta
cannot afford to buy fuel at
between N120 and N150 per
litre. She said the high
unemployment rate in the Niger
Delta will be compounded by the
withdrawal of fuel subsidy. She
said the consequence is
predictable.”
The third source at the session
said: “The CSOs demanded the
immediate reform of the EFCC
and ICPC without sparing sacred
cows to rid the nation of
corruption; drastic reduction of
jumbo allowances being paid to
government officials especially
members of the National
Assembly; cutting recurrent cost
and increase its revenue drive.”
“On the use of Executive fiat to
withdraw fuel subsidy, they
reminded the President that the
PPPRA Act does not give him
such powers. Jonathan must
revert to the National Assembly
to amend the PPPRA Act first
before he can unilaterally
withdraw the fuel subsidy.
“We told the President to ignore
the fixation that the fuel subsidy
must go in the interest of
democracy and the nation. We
made him realize that when the
CSOs fought for him to be acting
President and struggled for him
to be substantive President in
April, it was because he
promised a transformation of
the nation.
“We said that there is nothing
new in all the palliatives reeled
out at the session because
successive governments of ex-
President Ibrahim Babangida
and ex-President Olusegun
Obasanjo had toed .similar paths
“We made him realize that
withdrawal of fuel subsidy is not
transformation. We were all
unanimous in rejecting the
withdrawal of fuel subsidy.But
we said if the government
remains adamant on the
withdrawal of fuel subsidy, we
will go back to the streets to
protest.
“We also pledged to assist the
government with a list of
sources of funds to finance its
projects.
Asked what the response of the
President was, the fourth source
at the session added: “He
promised to look at our points.” source-www.thenationonlineng.net.