₦airaland Forum

Na these grandpapa/grandmama NLC/TUC union officials na him somebody dey go occupy Nigeria? Abeg make una no make me laff oh. These ones no fit trek 1 mile self

[quote author=ndu_chucks link=topic=844349.msg9948178#msg9948178 date=1326364486]I am fully convinced that GEJ is not in control and that he is fully unqualified and lacks the ability to govern a country such as ours. How he allowed the situation to get to this level is beyond me.  His advisers appear to be grossly incompetent and suffer from a severe disconnect from the masses - they seem to be living in a bubble.

GEJ needs to take the bull by the horn, reverse this untimely policy, start fighting corruption and Boko Haram, and regain the trust of the people of Nigeria. I'm afraid that his government may not survive if this strike continues beyond this week.[/quote]What makes you think GEJ is not in control? The mere fact that there are protests in Abuja and in the states that did'nt want a southerner to become a President in the first place does not mean that GEJ is not in control. statistically, majority of states and Nigerians are going about their normal business except for govt offices that are shut.
By the way, sorry to disappoint you but GEJ would complete his tenure even if Lagosians carry out their political/entertainment jambore/carnival till the end of the year. As for going back to N65, forget it. Its NEVER going to happen. NEVER!

Traders Unhappy Over Closure Of Market
Some traders in Lagos on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the continued closure of markets and their loss of revenue, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The markets have remained shut for three consecutive days since the nationwide strike called by a coalition of the NLC, TUC and the civil society began on Monday. The strike was called to protest the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on January 1. The traders who spoke with NAN in separate interviews, urged the Federal Government and labour to dialogue and save Nigerians from more hardship. NAN quotes the traders as saying that their anguish stemmed from the fact that neither the government nor labour would compensate them at the end of the strike. Mr. Matthew Afolabi, a youth leader at Araromi Plank Market in the Mafoluku area of Lagos, said that the strike had eroded their means of livelihood. Afolabi said that traders could not continue with the industrial action because they depended on their daily income to survive. “Our survival depends on what we make on daily basis.” Afolabi expressed support for the subsidy removal, but suggested that it should be gradual to minimise the pains. Mr. Chukwudi Okonkwo, a spare parts dealer, urged labour to call off the strike, saying that he and his family were starving. Okonkwo said that the timing of the fuel subsidy removal and general strike, coming immediately after the yuletide holidays was wrong. He said that he depended on his daily income for the family needs.
Another trader, Mr. Obiora Nduka, said that the strike caught most of the traders unawares, adding that they would continue to record losses, if the strike was not suspended.

Traders Unhappy Over Closure Of Market
Some traders in Lagos on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the continued closure of markets and their loss of revenue, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The markets have remained shut for three consecutive days since the nationwide strike called by a coalition of the NLC, TUC and the civil society began on Monday. The strike was called to protest the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on January 1. The traders who spoke with NAN in separate interviews, urged the Federal Government and labour to dialogue and save Nigerians from more hardship. NAN quotes the traders as saying that their anguish stemmed from the fact that neither the government nor labour would compensate them at the end of the strike. Mr. Matthew Afolabi, a youth leader at Araromi Plank Market in the Mafoluku area of Lagos, said that the strike had eroded their means of livelihood. Afolabi said that traders could not continue with the industrial action because they depended on their daily income to survive. “Our survival depends on what we make on daily basis.” Afolabi expressed support for the subsidy removal, but suggested that it should be gradual to minimise the pains. Mr. Chukwudi Okonkwo, a spare parts dealer, urged labour to call off the strike, saying that he and his family were starving. Okonkwo said that the timing of the fuel subsidy removal and general strike, coming immediately after the yuletide holidays was wrong. He said that he depended on his daily income for the family needs. Another trader, Mr. Obiora Nduka, said that the strike caught most of the traders unawares, adding that they would continue to record losses, if the strike was not suspended.

Lagos – The Organised Private Sector says the sector is losing about N200 billion daily to the strike which started on Monday.

Stakeholders in the sector lamented in Lagos that the strike would have negative consequences on the operators if it continued for long.

They urged the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call off the strike to minimise the negative impact on the citizens and the economy.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) said that although it was the right of the people to protest, it was also time to stop the strike.

Dr. Herbert Ajayi, the President of NACCIMA, the sector was losing an average of N200 billion daily to the strike since it started on Monday.

“It’s well known across the country that people are against the Federal Government removal of fuel subsidy because it will increase the rate of poverty and unemployment level.

“The OPS members are the worst hit in the whole scenario.

“If you go to the drawing board, you will discover that the harsh operating environment in terms of poor roads, energy, security, among others, being shouldered by our members, and with the strike, we are losing more.

“We have heard that the Federal Government and the labour have cogent reasons.

“But the most important thing to do now is to go back to the drawing board to fashion out a lasting solution,” Ajayi said.

He warned that prolonging the strike more than necessary would further put its members at a disadvantage.

According to him, further prolonging the strike will make members to lay off workers and reduce production.

“We are not producing, but the workers’ wages are pilling and cost of running other auxiliary services to keep some machines on are ongoing.

“There are some machines that will cost millions of naira to overhaul if shut down.

“All these are the unforeseen negative implications labour should look into and call off the strike,” Ajayi said.

ireke:
In my opinion, I think this attempt to remove the subsidy has been a blessing. It has shown us that we can fight. They have always viewed us (nigerians) as set of docile people. Hopefully, when this is all over, we will get on the street again to ask for a Nigeria where there are no full time senators and reps earning 29M naira per month but part time legislators that have something reasonable to contribute, and that will not earn more than 50M naira in a year. That is the only hope for us to have serious minded legislators. Right now, all we have are thieves. Ex-Governor Senator, Ex-Senator Governor.

Don't get excited. Nigerians have always fought when fuel price is increased even during military dictatorships.

Ephraimspy:
Jonathan should be able to listen to the house and harken to the popular opinion of the ppl. period. He is not allknowing!

Govt is not a popularity contest. All over the world, govts do take tough and painful decisions when they have to regardless of public opinion. Why? because during elections, you gave them a mandate to govern the country in the way they beleive is right. so,, where they need to take 'unpopular' decisions to achieve their election promises, they do it. The best you can do if you are unhappy with how the policy turned out is to vote them out in the next elections or ask you legislators to impeach them. NLC/TUC and opposition party members cannot tell the President how to run the country. If they want to retain subsidy, they should contest elections,, get into office and do implement their own policies. Afterall, Oshiomole did that in Edo.

otokx:
propaganda

Propaganda in favour of FG in Daily Trust Newspaper? That means you know nothing about Nigerian Newspapers. Ask around about the philisophical and journalistic leaning of daily trust

Before he spoke, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim who led a delegation to the meeting said government would not negotiate unless labour calls off its strike.

Earlier at the State House in Abuja, Information Minister Labaran Maku said government would engage labour but never about subsidy removal.

Its like the more the strike lasts, the more FG gains the upper hand and labour's resolve is being weakened. meanwhile, I heard contrary to the public position yesterday, Pengassan has notified all branches to carry on with work as normal.

"Talks between government and labour unions to end the subsidy crisis faltered yesterday as the Federal Government rejected to consider marginal return of subsidy agreed by labour as a condition to end the protests.

Labour unions said they offered to accept “price adjustment”, meaning to restore some subsidy such that petrol price would be reduced but not back to the original
Nhttp://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152246:fg-adamant-as-labour-blinks&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=865 per litre, but the Federal Government said subsidy removal was non-negotiable."

The battle is already being won and lost! Well done GEJ. No shaking!

Toks2008:
Please show me in the history of the world where a president increases the price of an essential commodity by over 100% overnight.

You don't even need to go outside Nigeria for examples.
November 8, 1993: increased from 70K to N5:00.
November 22, 1993: reduced (when Abacha wanted to pacify Nigerians) to N3:25.
October 2, 1994: Increased from N3:25 to N15:00 but reduced two days later to N11:00.

Toks2008:
[b]Please show me in the history of the world where a president increases the price of an essential commodity by over 100% overnigh[/b]t.

Did you really ask that question?

Remii:
you sure don't know what negotiation is all about. You start from the extremes to get best from both sides. Both parties know that they would end up at negotiation table from start. Moreover, people makes govt. Even military have some power derivation from peoples acceptance.


OP: I never expected FGN to go back to N65, they wont, but the uprising should send signal to govt that people are watching. It should not fail.

I agree with you that in negotiation you start from the extreme. However, I have never seen a negotiation where the extreme is "No negotiation". In other words, even if NLC says FG must revert to N65, adding that that must happen before negotiation is wrong. This is because, the other party would either ignore you or beg you. In the event that he ignores you and you later go for negotiation with him, his position would naturally be hardened.

norrisman:
The sad thing is if there is an election in 2 weeks, INEC will claim GEJ won with a majority.

Do you think elections are won by being a noisy minority? How many voters do we have in Nigeria? how many people are protesting? Reminds me of all the noise gays used to make in the UK. however when a census was done, it turned out with all the noise making, they are less than 5% of the population. If you bring GEJ and Buhari/Bakare to contest against each other even tonight , GEJ would still win!

With only one press report, Karl Max has rubbished the statement by ACN. In any event, if Bugaje is innocent, he and ACN should go to court rather than calling on the FG to interfere in the work of the sss

Cypost:
These hard stance f®om FG and NLC will not help anybody.
Let watch this thing b4 it get out of hand o
I expect FG to listen to voice of reason except the Govnors almost every other group seems to be against this.

Why not remove it today restrategize and re introduce the thing later in the year after serious consultations
This heating the polity will not help anybody

While I agree that the FG is maintaining a hard stance. The NLC/TUC share a greater proportion of the blame. How can a labour union tell an elected president to reverse himself otherwise no discussion. That is enough to make any president to ignore you. During military regimes, it might to okay to issue such orders during strikes because thats the language they understand and they had nobody's mandate but you don't do that to an elected president. The same people that are insisting that the FG must reverse are ignoring a court order and the part of the Reps motion urging them to call off the strike, yet they want the president to obey their order. Anyway, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers

Abacha and co bowed to NLC and the Nigerian people because they had no mandate from the people ab inition. We voted for GEJ. We gave him our mandate. so why should he bow to a mere labour union/opposition party members(like bakare) who the people rejected.

"Meanwhile, private schools in Abia have defied the strike order by organised labour and have resumed. The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in a statement signed by the national secretary of the group, Enyinnaya Harbor, stated that the body is not an affiliate of the NLC or the TUC and therefore will not continue with the action."

"
The Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze, while addressing newsmen on the state’s N491.941 billion budget analysis, said consumption of fuel will now be reduced, compared to what was consumed in previous years.

“What we will see is that consumption will reduce because many will be forced to park their cars and take public buses. All of the petrol that was brought into this country for local consumption and had subsidy claimed on them, which later found their way out of the country, will no longer happen.

“The consumption will decrease and correspond to the amount of subsidy. What is true, however, is that because there is no more subsidy, the amount often deducted for subsidy from the federation account will now be available for the three tiers of governments. So we expect the impact of the subsidy to be positive, if properly applied.”

It is also expected that the policy will benefit the economy and the citizens, in the medium to long term as the private sector would likely invest in the downstream oil sector with a corresponding impact on the creation of jobs.

Other benefits that would be derivable from the policy, according to analysts include reduction in the pressures on foreign reserves as huge chunk of foreign reserves was used to fund fuel importation.

http://businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/31763-fuel-subsidy-scarcity-hits-neighbouring-countries

ABUJA: 14.23…Protesters are still out in force although labour appears to be losing grip of the situation as miscreants are growing impatient and refusing to disperse although no violence has been recorded yet.

CALABAR: 14.20…Unlike Tuesday, traders in Calabar Wednesday opened shops[b] in defiance of a directive of labour leaders[/b] who went around to try to enforce the strike.

Some petrol stations were selling, while buses and taxis operated.

"ABUJA: 14.23…Protesters are still out in force although labour appears to be losing grip of the situation as miscreants are growing impatient and refusing to disperse although no violence has been recorded yet.

CALABAR: 14.20…Unlike Tuesday, traders in Calabar Wednesday opened shops in defiance of a directive of labour leaders who went around to try to enforce the strike.Some petrol stations were selling, while buses and taxis operated."

Cleartalk:
Heard that some employers are even threatening to sack their staff if they do not resume work.

I think it's high time for NLC, TUC, other unions to sound a clear note of warning to all employers that are issuing such threat. The Managing Directors of such companies should be warned to desist from such act or face the consequences.

Is it NLC that pays the staff? Any staff of a private employer that refuses to go to work to help his employer make money would be sacked.QED. Infact, if it is in a more civilized country like the UK, the employee would have been sacked since unless he can prove to the employer that he made every reasonable effort to get to work but was unable to.

alj harem:
per Year 1.3 Trillion on subsidy

STRIKE per Day 320 Billion Loss:

5Days Strike= 1.6Trillion

SMH

Yeah right but that money is not going to be collected from GEJ salaries. The cost of a strike to the economy is the total loss suffered by everyone from govt to airlines to the tomatoes seller. Do you knw that aviation workers shout in the morning but allow night flights to take off? Why? because if the airlines lose too much money due to the strikes, it is the staff that are going to sacked.

I wonder why people are excited that CAMPAIGN offices were burnt. Are these not irrelevant structures? Elections have been won and lost and the next elections is over 3 years away. so whats the relevance of burning a reductant, disused and non-functional campaign office?

He has already proved his competence and boldness by removing fuel sudsidy and deregulatiing the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. This was one thing all past presidents/heads of state in the past 3 decades attempted to do but could not.

"I think the strike should end because there’s nothing going on, no way to work and get money,” said Ben Korchioga, a 26-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who was among some 150 motorists waiting outside a petrol station to see if it would open and sell them fuel.

Grace Ojo, selling rice at a market in Nigeria’s biggest city, is fed up — both with a strike that has shut down the country and with the president whose fuel price policy sparked it.

Asked if the strike should go on to force President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse the policy, the 53-year-old mother of three has a simple message: “Don’t continue!… But let Goodluck pity us.”

No doubt NLC is losing grounds . Before now, they were shouting over the roof top that NO NEGOTIATION until reversal of the subsidy removal. Now they are complaining that since they started the strike, the govt has not called them for negotiations. Furthermore, in all their iinterviews yesterday and today, they are 'appealing' to 'well meaning' Nigerians to talk to the President to reverse the price. Obviously they have started getting frustrated because in reality, govt officials, as individuals, have suffered nothing since the strike started. It is only the masses that are suffering and their sufferiing increases the more the strike continues.

"A protester, Raheem Mojeed, died on Tuesday following a machete cut allegedly inflicted on him by a suspected thug at Jolayemi area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that the incident happened on Monday night when the assailant engaged in a fight with the deceased, who allegedly mounted a barricade on the highway.

During the fight, the assailant allegedly injured Mojeed with a machete for refusing his vehicle passage while four other protesters suffered various degrees of injuries, witnesses said. Mojeed was said to have died at his residence in Olaiya area of the metropolis.

The matter was reported to the police by the Chairman of the Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People, Mr. Amitolu Shittu.

The corpse was taken to Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital for autopsy, witnesses said."

http://www.punchng.com/news/suspected-thug-kills-protester-in-osogbo-strike-grounds-abeokuta/

Abagworo:
You don't need a soothsayer to know that what Bakare said might be the likely outcome.  The masses are getting blood thirsty by the day because of the military and police shooting of protesters. All those lying to the President about the reality on ground hate our President and wish him dead.

99% of Nigerians are against subsidy removal. I've not seen a single soul in support except on NL.

Yet the occupiers have to force people to join them to occupy or to stay at home because less than 1% came out to occupy.
For your information, one of the '99%' was killed yesterday for trying to force a 1% ter to join him. so pls don't let this your laughable statistics get into your head oh.

Read below:
"A protester, Raheem Mojeed, died on Tuesday following a machete cut allegedly inflicted on him by a suspected thug at Jolayemi area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital. Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that the incident happened on Monday night when the assailant engaged in a fight with the deceased, who allegedly mounted a barricade on the highway.  During the fight, the assailant allegedly injured Mojeed with a machete for refusing his vehicle passage while four other protesters suffered various degrees of injuries, witnesses said. Mojeed was said to have died at his residence in Olaiya area of the metropolis."

", Although the popular Lafenwa and Omida markets as well as some motor parks were open for business in the morning, labour leaders mobilised protesters to the areas to force traders and park operators to close."

http://www.punchng.com/news/suspected-thug-kills-protester-in-osogbo-strike-grounds-abeokuta/

NLC Kano suspends strike
KANO: 12.50…The Nigeria Labour Congress in Kano has suspended the strike action. Although no reason has yet been given it might not be unconnected to the violent incidences on Monday which led to the death of one protester and the injury to a number of others.
source: Thisday

[quote author=Mai-suya link=topic=843034.msg9934660#msg9934660 date=1326200120]Besides our situation and that of UK is not the same they don't have huge reserves of gas and oil reserves,
We shouldn't take the White mans system hook line and sinker, we must align it with our peculiar situations (poverty, illiteracy etc)
So you se we r incomparable, and by the way we have tax laws and no Nigerian will complain of u enforce them, but leave our subsidy for us[/quote]Either you are very funny or you talk before you think. You compared the UK to Nigeria by arguing that the UK pays benefits while Nigeria doesnt. When I challenged you on it with facts, you turned around to say we should not compare Nigeria to UK. Do i take it take your initial post where you compared the two wav posted in error?
By the way, the UK has significant oil reserves