manny4life:

As far as I'm concerned, they did not explicitly declare their position whether they were "PRO or "CON"

Acn Governors Declare Position On Subsidy

As far as I'm concerned, they did not explicitly declare their position whether they were "PRO or "CON"

Depointer1:

The governors elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) met on Saturday, 7 January, 2012 at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.
The meeting deliberated on the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. Four Governors were in attendance: Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Lagos, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA of Ogun.

Two governors, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo were unavoidably absent.
The governors who attended the meeting resolved as follows:
“That the responsibility for managing the nation’s petroleum resources is that of the Federal Government
“That the pre-occupation of ACN as a party and its governors is the welfare and security of our people
“Our party has already expressed its reservation about the recent policy of the Federal Government regarding fuel subsidy, particularly its sudden implementation. We fully associate ourselves with the position of our party

” In our view, the debate on the fuel subsidy is a narrow one. Subsidy is a financial and economic tool, not an end in itself. We are more concerned about the totality of the economy. For this reason, it is imperative to immediately implement the long-standing demand for fiscal federalism.
“The first step in this direction is the immediate review of the lopsided revenue allocation formula.

“Our commitment to the welfare of our people remains irrevocable despite the challenging global and local economic situations. We are also unwavering in our commitment to the deepening of democracy and the enhancement of peace and security in our dear country, as necessary conditions for the successful implementation of life enhancing economic policies and programmes that enjoy the support of our people, and reduce the burden on them.
” In the meantime, we enjoin our people to show restraint and eschew violence even as they exercise their constitutional rights.”




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/01/07/acn-govs-declare-position-on-subsidy/

Pharoh:

what is the party position and fiscal federalism should be each state generating their money which they will keep and pay tax to the central government.

Beaf:

They think its about doing fuckall, that their only reason for being voted in is to carry a beggars bowl to Abuja every month of the year.
They are the biggest set of hypocrites on Earth.

What if Nigeria had no oil?

efisher:

It has PRO written all over it but as usual, ACN being an opposition party cannot be seen supporting the ruling party! In fact, they will use it to their political advantage if they have to. Subsidy removal is a typical ACN policy.

“Our party has already expressed its reservation about the recent policy of the Federal Government regarding fuel subsidy, particularly its sudden implementation. We fully associate ourselves with the position of our party

ACN restates opposition to removal of fuel subsidy;Party: [b]we stand by the people.[/b]

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday re-stated its opposition to the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, saying the pains that the action will inflict on Nigerians will far outstrip whatever ‘gains’ will accrue therefrom.

In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the clarification of its stand  becomes necessary in view of the insinuation by the government’s propaganda machinery that it has secured the support of 40 political parties for the  removal of subsidy.

‘’The government should mention the 40 political parties it met on this issue. By the Grace of God, our party is the largest opposition party in the country today. We have not expressed support for the removal of fuel subsidy.

‘’We remain on the side of the people. We feel their pulse and their pains. We believe the removal of fuel subsidy is a great misadventure, and have conveyed our stand on the issue in a letter to the President, though we never got a response,’’ it said.

ACN also wondered what a government is elected to do, if it is now tying the provision of infrastructure to the removal of fuel subsidy.

‘’President Jonathan did not tell Nigerians, during his electioneering campaign, that his administration will only be able to deliver the dividends of democracy by removing fuel subsidy.

Therefore, it amounts to arm twisting the people to say that funds saved from fuel subsidy removal will be used to build roads,  hospitals and schools and other expectations from the government. The government should have been honest enough to say it is seeking ways to raise money for governance, and Nigerians would have been glad enough to let it know how to raise money without resorting to a phantom fuel subsidy removal.

‘’Our message to the President is that if he feels he cannot explore other areas to raise money for development, like cutting down on government excesses, then he should say so clearly and leave the stage for those who can ensure development with minimal pains. Our party, the ACN, will provide good governance without removing fuel subsidy, and we are ready to do so today if the Jonathan government cannot,’’ the party said.

It repeated its earlier statement that what the government is claiming to subsidise is corruption and inefficiency, adding that unless refineries are repaired and built to refine enough products for local consumption and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is revamped to function more efficiently, no amount of fuel subsidy removal will end the current reign of the so-called cabal.

‘’There will always be a cabal in the oil sector for as long as local production cannot meet demand, and the government resorts to importation. This also applies to other sectors. Therefore, the best way to deal with the cabal is to ensure enough local refining of oil.

‘’With the knowledge that even if all the local refineries are working at full capacity, they may still not meet domestic demand, we have suggested that the government should build modular refineries.

This does not require rocket science. After all, Niger discovered oil only a few years ago and now has a refinery,’’ ACN said.

The party also took the Federal Government to task on its claim that whatever hardship is inflicted by removal of fuel subsidy would be short-lived, wondering if at all the government even knows the kind of pain it will inflict on the citizenry by its fuel subsidy misadventure.

‘’Does this government know that the moment the so-called subsidy is removed, food prices will triple; cost of transportation will shoot sky-high; health care will be further impaired; mortality rate will go up and the country’s ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals will be affected?’’ it queried.

But the party advised the government to tarry a while, desist from its divide-and-rule tactics against labour and the opposition, provide answers to critical questions like whether or not the NNPC even accounts for the 445,000 bpd of crude it receives, what is the current refining capacity of the functioning local refineries and how much fuel is being refined locally, what does the NNPC do with the balance, what is the ex-refinery cost of the fuel refined in Nigeria and how much is it sold for.

‘’By the time these questions and others are answered, the government will no longer be under any illusion that it is subsidising fuel and that what it needs to do urgently is to ensure that the country can refine enough oil to meet local consumption, and in turn stop the exportation of technology, jobs, growth and expertise that goes with crude oil export,’’ ACN said.

chima12:

with the heavy taxation systems being implemented in lagos,any discerning person should know that [b]if [/b]ACN were in power,they would also remove fuel subsidy.

Negro_Ntns:

You guys should understand certain things about politicians, they speak with tact and in measured responses.

Pharoh:

If Nigeria has no oil then we have to fall back to the sectors which we have not developed but will they be sustainable to keeps us alive before we start developing?. I seriously doubt so and we will just end up like the other African countries that would be depending on aid from the western world.

Our federalism is a fraud with questionable foundation, operation and structure, my friends are always surprised when i explain to them the way these European country works. They still look at it from the Nigerian context without seeing the contribution of the cities and municipalities. Each state and local government should work like an independent country but coordinate activities to make everything look like one and not this top down approach but we need a down up approach.

[b]I don't know why they are so particular about sharing the revenue without addressing how this revenues were generated in the first place.[/b] Government should not listen to them at all because they are the ones that has refused the Independence of the local government and increased revenue to these same local government as they are the closest to the people.

chima12:

The bolded is one problem about the southwest ,they just dont want true federalism,all they want is more money for the states and less for abuja.

chima12:

The bolded is one problem about the southwest ,they just dont want true federalism,all they want is more money for the states and less for abuja.

a. A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

they just dont want true federalism,all they want is more money for the states and less for abuja.

ACN tells lawmakers to fight for true federalism
PostDateIcon Wednesday, 11 May 2011 08:58 | PostAuthorIcon Author: TransparencyNG | Print E-mail
Share
inShare
SocButtons plugin

LAWMAKERS elected on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform have got their work cut out for them. They are to fight for true federalism, which will lead to a change in the revenue allocation formula, the party leadership said yesterday in Abuja.

The party’s thinking, according to its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is that only fiscal federalism can accelerate Nigeria’s development.

Tinubu said the Federal Government does not need more than 25 to 30 per cent of the nation’s resources, yet it collects 52 per cent.

It was all at an interactive session with ACN National Assembly members-elect at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Tinubu said: “We are the largest opposition party in the country. God bless Nigeria. What we are saying is a controlled mechanism that will ensure a better and more assured free and fair elections. We will have a government and the opposition that is truly the representative of the wishes of the people.

“What should be our agenda? What we stand for is what we are saying. And the stability of our country. We have Federal Republic of Nigeria and we are running a federal constitution. Then, we are here to ensure true federalism and I hope I am clear. Now fiscal federalism is mandatory for us. It is only the legislature that can effect the change in the revenue sharing formula.

“In the last 12 years, I have not heard that the revenue allocation has been reviewed and implemented. We have a lopsided revenue sharing formula.

[size=14pt]“Critical to that, you have a lopsided revenue formula giving the Federal Government 52 per cent of the commonwealth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is not acceptable. The real people are there in the states and local government levels. The Federal Government should not take more than 25-30 per cent of the revenue.”

He went on: “In the federal principle under the constitution, it is the state who ceded power and trust to the Federal Government to hold certain aspects in trust on behalf of the states. Without the states, there is no federal. The situation is sad.

“So, we have not been running an effective federal system; it has been unitary system and it has to stop. And we have to work hard on that.
[/size]
“Added to that they brought Revenue Allocation Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission. It is clear in the constitution, but it has never been implemented. It has been abused by the same government since 1999. Obasanjo was the worst abuser…

“Again, back to fiscal federalism. Throughout 2005 - 2007, several recommendations were made to review the revenue allocation formula. I think the governors are still struggling on that. I don’t know why.

“Even though PDP might not understand the need for the review and I don’t see why because they even control more states.  This must be for the benefit of the states.

“The Federal Government should not take more than 25-30 per cent of the revenue. Rather than establish industries. Let us look at their mandate on education; cede power to the states, contribute and release revenue to the states to do this.”

“It is good to establish minimum wage, then where is the money? So, they are dictating to the states when you did not hire their employees for them. And you ask them to pay these civil servants and you didn’t release that of the federal that you are keeping.”

Tinubu also faulted the accountability procedure of the Federal Government.

He asked: “Where is NNPC? Where is accountability? Why should the same Accountant-General keep the books of this country and the Federal Government?”

alj harem:

it seems you are getting daf.ter as each day passes. It is better to keep a neutral stance than to use tribalism to block your thinking

EDO, Delta, NC and the SW have all protested but you are so deluded to think any SS state could protest

More move what has this got to do with the SW ?