₦airaland Forum

Actually a good idea, these are part of the pre-work that should have been included in the entire policy before it was rolled out. Each states and local governments could have joined in the exercise rather than leaving the load for GEJ to carry while they wait to share the money.

Beaf:
It is quite a foolish agenda that only shows how shallow the protest organisers are. Nigeria's problems are much deeper than that shallow list.
No mention any of the following:

True federalism.
Citizen-state contract to give a sense of belonging to every Nigerian.
Functions of LG and state in the country's match to development. Is their sole task to divide money from Abuja?
The abrogation of the anti-people land use decree.
Resource control.
The passing of the PIB.
etc etc

Its like a gathering of directionless people who have unleashed crowds, but don't know what to do with them. They will get swallowed up, in fact it is high time more intellectually inclined people took over the protest movement.

And you think GEJ is interested in any of these? It will make more sense to have the SS folks join in the crusade on those issues you listed above, they will be addressed as a matter of urgency if Tom Polo and co would shut down all the crude oil production areas rather than working for their pockets. It was shocking to hear GEJ talked about tenure in office when the issue of Federalism and PIB has been on ground for a while!

Some of us will keep drumming it into your ears that the oil has pulled back the entire country especially the SW. Human brains are not put to good use when everybody is dependent on oil. I am not a fan of Tinubu but he did stood up to OBJ and ran the Lagos LGs without the useless monthly oil handouts. Some of us will give up 50% of our salary as tax if we wont have to run our own local government.

So sad people are not using their brains here, yet Okah/Tom Polo and co had to use/trust Wole Soyinka to act on their behalf during the meeting with Yar Adua.

As far as know, Yorubas would prefer and have been supporting resource control and true federalism. This is based on principles, the oil has caused more damage in the SW than benefits and it will be in the interest of SW to move away from monthly oil handouts.

Move to the village, village life does not require generator and food is cheap!

Take me serious at your own risk!

BAMMZ:
I just wonder what type of leadership we want. If we dont trust govt to do the right thg then what wil we trust? The opposition, the u.n.o, . . . We must just giv them a chance. Trust must begin somehow and somewhere. Besides,Goodluck is also a victim of past leaders misdeeds. I trust he has good plans. God bless nigeria.

Very funny! Was the last election the first for you? I have been trusting and never got anything back, it is cautious trust now; I wont put so much in their hands so they don't mess up too much.

He should cut the cost of governance immediately and put pressure on the national assembly to do same. He also need the national assembly to review all the parastatals under the Fed Ministries, they are way too many and useless. He will get the people on his side and wont need to back down on the removal.

LeoMax:
Once more refineries comes on board prices will fall due to competition. Have you heard of scrapping of PHCN ? Thats commendable too. VI axis has at least 18hrs electricity for the past 1 week. Trust me, we will end up spending less on PMS if electricity is steady

The bolded part, sir, is a big lie!

Refineries are not like telecoms services that thrives and become cheaper with improved technology. There is a baseline cost of refining that is pretty high as long as the price of crude oil is high. Profits are dependent on huge turnover (on very low profit margin). Most of the costs on the PPPRA template will still be there (http://www.pppra-nigeria.org/pms.htm), the price will further go up by the time the taxes are added as required by the law.

She made sense in her response, subsidy has been a recurring decimal in our economic equation before her arrival and will continue to be until it is finally nailed down. Let's give it to her, she is good and is the kind of woman any business concern would pay millions to have on the board.

I think people should stop making reference to IMF/ World Bank and Ngozi, we are a people capable of developing and executing growth strategies without IMF et al. Decisions such as the subsidy removal are typical of a capitalist economy, the problem here is more with the execution. GEJ could have done a better job in the packaging and delivery.

Leaving out any propaganda, the strike was a success if viewed from how it impacted business. I believe all the international flights were cancelled, that's bad enough.

I really pray for GEJ to succeed but he is mismanaging this program, the protest is going beyond subsidy now with people focusing on the cost of governance and corruption.

Waiting to see how this will end.

Some of us don't need any fuel subsidy but there is a way the voucher idea can work with some amendments. Leave out tax defaulters! Focus more on students (below university) and elderly (above 60), people between 18 and 60 should be left to hustle.
We really need to focus on the very poor, those vulnerable to the challenges of the environment.

And then, please show me how to work out this idea without getting it hijacked by the politicians. Remember ghost workers? We need to shrink the "corruption cancer" to a level that will allow any meaningful execution of programs in the country.

@OP,

As sarcastic as you tried to be, misinformation is dangerous. We can run a good campaign against corruption without making mockery of our brains!

These are legit businesses, let the govt prosecute them if they are found wanting!

Negotiation is not a sign of weakness though, just thought to let you know.

.

.

Yes, GEJ is fighting them but he can't do it alone and this is the part that should bother us all. He needs the people on his side to win this war! He should have started the subsidy removal with an attack on the budget of the national assembly and watch how the people will follow him all the way. Now he will be dealing with this battle on two fronts, national assembly and the people!

@LeoMax,

Just thought to directly address you to clear something up, most Nigerians would support this subsidy if GEJ didn't jump the gun. NLC and TUC folks knows it is the only way to go especially with the helplessness of govt in catching the thieves.

The timing is too wrong for a country that is bleeding. My maiguard is currently trapped in the North because transport fare jumped to N7,000; I can't send money to him and he doesn't have anything doing over there to make money to feed. Those are the people we are worried about, GEJ should have addressed those issues that will impact on the very poor before this removal. Wat
Govt focus on the 1,600 buses is so silly as the issues of increments are bigger than that especially with the knowledge that our agricultural output is still very low. Watch the egunje culture going up with the subsidy wahala.
There are several other doable measures GEJ should have taken before this January 1st policy; he would also get the people on his side if he can demonstrate the resolve to tackle corruption.

One other good thing about this subsidy removal is that it has opened up the "eyes" of most Nigerians to how the resources of our nation are been squandered.

It is reasonable to reschedule your flight, if possible. It's every man for himself, I would stay out of harm's way at this time.

Nobody is replacing anybody, my organization has written every employee to stay away from work as the staff buses will definitely not be on the road. Safety is of paramount importance, better be safe than sorry.

.

Ranting of a government agent, didn't expect less from him and I am in agreement with some of his opinions in other areas of the economy.

The solution to the subsidy nonsense was actually embedded in the petroleum industry bill (PIB) that is currently dying away because it will take the food away from the same group of people killing the economy.

The current fight is beyond petroleum subsidy but the clueless GEJ does not seem to have even the faintest idea what is going on. I believe that the people would be very willing to support this kind of policy if there is serious show of responsibility on the side of government. Where in the world do you throw money at problems and achieve success? The problem is with the management of the little that comes in, can this guy grow some balls and wage a war against the corrupt people?

I pray and hope the country recover from the aftermath of all the planned protests.

Fhemmmy:
If you know of any pond that could contain like 10,000 fishes please lemme know if it is for rent . . . . conditions could be discussed here or offline

Earthen pond or block construction?

dmainboss:
It is interesting that labour has subtly admitted fuel subsidy should go but with certain conditions in place like reforms in NNPC and several other fundermentals. I think this debate is a major punch by GEJ. A very major score! If they build on this, fuel subsidy will be gone in 2012. But I also think it has brought some things to the knowledge of the government, especially about how they need to build trust! Very key!

With the helplessness of government in fighting the thieves profiting from this scam, the subsidy should go, better for the masses on the long run. The initial suffering will be heavy though.
GEJ acted well allowing discussions unlike OBJ that would just announce an increase with no consultation. And I believe it will take a very long time to build any trust, at least for me. Please don't believe what you heard from them until it is done, we are dealing with Nigerian politicians here and they are a special breed.

Oshiomole's input was quite revealing, the country is in a very helpless and sorry state. How can some individuals be bigger than a nation?

God help us to help ourselves!

done this morning! Jarus to confirm.

Good job folks! It feel so good to know and join in.

Could you send me the Naija account details?

[quote author=kemi.mebud link=topic=118823.msg9550795#msg9550795 date=1321236536]where do you live hotstepper? i am at st catherines and i go to toronto almost every weekend[/quote]That trip is well over an hour, maybe like 90mins at not less than 100km/hr.

Welcome to Ontario and NL

hercules07:
My own question is if a government can not take on criminality, why should it expect the ordinary citizen to bear the brunt?

You sure don't live in Nigeria, is there anything Nigerian government can take on?? Don't we all run our own government providing virtually everything in our homes??

proudly9ja:
If Government cannot deal with the criminals milking us dry, why should we trust them to use the money saved from fuel subsidy wisely?

Better to be in the hands of free market economy than the few harvesting the future of the country.

Johnpaul2k2:
i suggest we build Refineries first!! before removing this subsidy

To be managed by government or the private sector? Government - you will lose again, Private sector - no dice at this N65 price. Petroleum Industry Bill was going to address this but those few wont let it happen.

olsmade:
Dis is real sad. How much did you exchange d dollar for today? So much but so little. Just answer d question. Now dis mallam wants to charge 164 to a dollar and I dont know if he's trying to swerve me. Sad sad sad.

But you are in Ibadan, right? Pay more attention to the news on TV, wait a few more days except it's urgent. The rate should be better (like 155/156) by tomorrow/Thursday.

ebenezer95:
Please How Much Did You Exchange The Dollar For Today??

161.50

jesus4me:
@justwise, i cant really understand your own about this whole issue, cos u didnt fall for this dos not mean u are a genius or that u ve never make a mistake in your life, this is not the first scam n it wont be the last, because they fell for this scam dos not mean that they are all so silly to fall for such, go and sleep justwise and stop feeling like mr know all, EVEN big coy sometimes fall for something u that are unimaginable mr WISE, If you cant profer a way forward on this issue, i will suggest u find something meaningful to do with your time, the HAVOC av been committed and the best thing any WISE person can do after falling is to RISE again and learn from HIS/HER past error, shikena!!!

See you at the TOP!!!

Are you for real! I thought everybody is here to educate whoever is willing to learn so as to avoid scams such as this or is your purpose here different? Pretty sure it wont be the last scam but some will learn and not fall into another one; the more people that are educated, the better for all of us.

And you keep writing "see you at the top"? It sound like language of scammers!