http://www.channelstv.com/global/news_details.php?nid=30863&cat=Local

The Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the pro-people civil groups have asked Nigerians to resist the imposition of the new fuel prices, resulting from government’s unceremonious removal of fuel subsidy.

A joint press statement by the NLC and TUC said all state councils and unions have been directed to forthwith resist any price above 65 naira per liter of PMS and await a date for the commencement of general strikes and mass protests across the country.

The statement said the removal, which it termed a “New Year gift by the presidency”, is callous, insensitive and is intended to cause anarchy in the country.

It said the sudden removal is a clear demonstration that the Jonathan administration cannot be trusted, considering the fact that the administration had told Nigerians it was consulting on the issue which would take effect from April 1, 2012, if contemplated.

The Labour groups said Nigerians must begin immediate mobilization towards the commencement of the strikes, street demonstrations and mass protests across the country to resist the chaos which the Federal Government is trying to impose on the country.

The groups also warned security outfits to resist any order to shoot or attack Nigerians during the protest with a threat that such officers would be brought to justice.

According to the statement, dates for the organized national strikes and mass protests will be announced in the next few days and the NLC is ready for dig in for the long haul, saying: “This promises to be a long drawn battle; we know its beginning, but we do not know its end or when it will end. But we are confident that the Nigerian people will triumph over the cabal in Aso rock.”

Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with Channels Television, TUC president, Comrade Peter Esele said they were surprised that the government would proceed to implement the removal without recourse of the national assembly, adding that the PPPRA did not consult with labour unions that are on the board of the agency before fixing the new price of fuel.

This is the time to stand up and fight for your country. The era of talking has passed. The people have to rise up and take Nigeria back from the liars and thieves in Abuja. It's time to go to war against these criminals.

Who's with me?!

People should be aware that the police is likely to look for any excuse to teargas or shoot unarmed protesters. Do not let them provoke you into violence. Keep it peaceful and we will win.

Let's try and keep the bloodshed to a minimum.

Everybody should stay close to a radio tomorrow morning and wait for the people at NLC to make the announcement. Prepare to go outside and protest.

This battle over subsidy is likely to last a long time. People should try and stock up on food and cash, there's no guarantee that ATM machines will get refilled if the strike lasts long enough. Try and avoid unnecessary movements, and be aware that thugs might try to hijack the protests to rob people.

Stay safe!

it is high time we as a people decided to take power away from aso rock for the now. They have only inflicted deaths and hardship on the people. We have to support labor head on without sentiments. Everybody. Enough is enough

I'm in full support of der action,urge evry Nigerians to pls joint d NLC&TUC wen d protect beging.dey shud also along wit oda sectors emback on indefinite strike immidiately.Actually,pple might benefited from Fuel subsidy removal in d long run but looking at d present economy situation and d standard of living of majority of d pple,i think it shud b sth gradual nd shudnt b remove at once.Wat giv us an assurance dat Trillions realised from it, wi b judiciouly utilised.

So you guys now see the merit in protesting? Well, for me I did a test run with the Lekki toll protest and saw how people here scoffed at it.

As for me and my family, we are not protesting again!

The One:

So you guys now see the merit in protesting? Well, for me I did a test run with the Lekki toll protest and saw how people here scoffed at it.

As for me and my family, we are not protesting again!

The Lekki toll road was small potatoes compared to this. This subsidy issue is going to sink millions of Nigerians into poverty if nothing is done. People are literally going to suffer and starve over this. Think about those who are raising families on N15,000 a month.

And don't be discouraged just because the last one didn't work out. You don't just give up because of one setback, you keep fighting.

^ lol, thats the problem with nigeria. Nobody wan die even when bombs and armed robbers dey kill lyk its christmas. I hope everybody will drop fears and sentiments and join this cause. Gej wanna see what we can do. Lets show him

UAD Rejects Fuel Price Increase; Calls For Indefinite Mass Action

The United Action for Democracy [UAD] condemns in the strongest terms the recent decision by the Federal Government to increase the price of petrol from N65 to N141 beginning on the 1st of January 2012.

The UAD considers this policy not only insensitive, ill thought out and absolutely unnecessary, but also provocative and inhumane. Given the fact that 70% of Nigerians live below what is considered the poverty line, and 90% live on less than $2 a day, an increase of this magnitude or whatever magnitude for that matter will spell social and economic doom for the vast majority of Nigerians who are already overburdened by unemployment, poor infrastructure, high cost of living, unaffordable basic social services and dwindling livelihoods. 

The United Action for Democracy and indeed the generality of Nigerians are not convinced by government’s plea that the phantom extra funds to be derived from increasing the price of petrol will be ploughed into building ‘critical infrastructure’ and creating ‘safety nets’ for poor Nigerians.

Going by previous similar promises  by the same economic think tank (like the $1billion to be saved annually from Paris Club debt deal and channeled into critical infrastructure), it is clear that this government has neither the will nor the sincerity of purpose to pursue real transformative and poverty alleviating economic reforms. Worse still, government’s failure to tackle the ‘cabal’ which it claims at every instance is responsible for colossal fraud in oil importation, and its failure to revamp the refineries (which by the way if operating at installed capacity can provide both the real and ‘ghost’ local consumption figures), is proof of this.

It is worrying that in a country that is rated as a key exporter of crude oil on the one hand, while its citizens are noted as some of the poorest in the world on the other; government will even contemplate such a debilitating economic policy. In real terms, an increase in the price of petrol will engender an attendant increase in the cost of all products and services, bearing in mind the transport implications of goods and services and the fact that homes and businesses generate their own power/electricity due to the failure of public power supply.

It is even more worrisome that while this regime is hell bent on imposing further hardships on us, it has just shamelessly presented the 2012 budget proposals to the National Assembly, where it is taking public funds [our money] to cover all the expenses of those in power. For example, we will pay 1.3billion naira to fuel the generators in the presidency, and 1 billion naira to feed the first family, while the rest of us are left to the mercy of the cabal to cover the cost of transportation and feeding among other things. This is simply not acceptable!

Based on the above, the United Action for Democracy calls on all Nigerians to rise up with one voice and as one to reject and resist this price increase. The United Action For Democracy shall, beginning on the 3rd of January 2012, initiate and coordinate with others a series of Mass Citizens Actions targeted at stopping this policy and tackling the rot in the petroleum sector.

The UAD calls on all citizens and citizens organizations to mobilize and take action in defense of their material survival and the survival of the country, as it is now very clear that our destiny is in our hands.
As we did in the era of military despotism, UAD will stand with the people all the way as we collectively reclaim our sovereignty from this alliance of treasury looters and the cabal.

http://saharareporters.com/press-release/uad-rejects-fuel-price-increase-calls-indefinite-mass-action

Nigerians are too impatient!
This also happened in Ghana.
This is one good thing GEJ has done.
The MOPOLS need to come around to tear-gas those m0r0ns I swear!

@ Evil Brain try to put ur head to good use. May be this will get alot of the junk or death trap people ride around in off the streets and reduce the number of road accident casualty from cheap fuel. Everyone in Nigeria is driving becos it is affordable.

Besides in the UK we have congestion charging, to reduce the number of motorist and pollution. Nigeria motorist nad polllution need reduction too. GEJ is simply too good.

Surely they will gather but most surely the will scatter.

the fuel subsidy is a big drain on the economy and benefits daily the oil majors.

it is only ignorant folks to will stick out their neck for the benefit of the oil cabals who have manipulated the media to instill fears of subsidy removal on undescerning people. Fuel subsidy removal has come people, lets embrace change.

it's not as bad as they made it sound.

These sycophants, these sycophants, Funny how these two i-diots above who by the way are not based in the country are running their mouth. Don't worry until this govt is shut down. Fuel subsidy has neva been the problem of nigeria

@moderator, never you remove my post again. This is the last warning i will give to you. This is suppose to be a free forum/society where views can be can be made known, Just because i said MASSOB should capitalise on this impending protest and also embark on a full scale pro-independent protest that would be likened to the to the arab uprising so that the whole world will hear our voice, Abo oro lama ba omo oluwabi so, you know the rest. BE WARN

PointB:

Surely they will gather but most surely the will scatter.

the fuel subsidy is a big drain on the economy and benefits daily the oil majors.

it is only ignorant folks to will stick out their neck for the benefit of the oil cabals who have manipulated the media to instill fears of subsidy removal on undescerning people. Fuel subsidy removal has come people, lets embrace change.

it's not as bad as they made it sound.

You people are missing the point. It doesn't matter if the subsidy benefits the so called cabal. Even if only 1% of the money got to ordinary folks, that't still a benefit they had before that they didn't have now.

Not only is the government punishing ordinary people for their own failure to prosecute high level criminals, they are asking us to tighten our belts while they are loosening theirs. While the government is still paying the fat cats their jumbo allowances and wasting hundreds of billions on inflated contracts and running their bloated operation, they want the poor to make all the sacrifices? We will not stand for it!

It's time to show Goodluck and co who is the master and who is the servant. Those liars and thieves need to be brought down to their level.