ADC Chieftain Faults Fuel Subsidy Removal Implementation Process . Urges NLC, TUC to take firm measures to address its effect
By Inegbagha Majesty
A Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the 2023 Bayelsa State House of Assembly election standard bearer of the party, for Nembe Constituency Two, Mr Frederick Braid Amiefamonyo has faulted fuel subsidy removal implementation process.
Amiefamonyo made the assertion Friday in a chat with Global Overseer’s editor in Yenagoa.
The ADC Chieftain over-whelmingly support fuel subsidy
removal, but, he however regretted federal government failure to put in place alleviation
plan that would cushion its effect before executing the policy.
He stated emphatically that Nigerians would have been
on the streets to protest against the effects cause by its removal without
mitigation plan before even the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) proposed strike,
but they jettison it and take their destiny into their hands because they are
fed up with the way and manner government handles issues without according the
welfare of its citizenries a pride of place in its policy formulations and
implementations.
He pointed out that the same way the poor benefit the
fuel subsidy much more than the rich people is the same way they suffer the
effect of subsidy removal than the rich citizens, particularly in the areas of
the mode of transportation, movement, goods as well as their cost and standard
of living.
He averred that the removal of fuel subsidy affected
the people of Bayelsa state more than any other states of the federation
because of its overdependence of its consumption from other states.
He expressed displeasure on the current fuel hike in
the country which he said the pump price of Petrol supposed to be sold at N100
per liter, as Nigeria being an oil producing country, and considering the
availability of resources and raw materials at its disposal.
He noted that the effect of fuel subsidy removal
wouldn't have adversely affect the people as currently affected, had it been
the federal government commence it removal by July with mitigation plan to
cushion its effect; but was wrongly started following Mr President inaugural
speech on May 29.
The sage also lamented that even the removal of Gas
subsidy the federal government didn't put plan in place to mitigate its effect
on Nigerians, stating that over 6 years ago government has not done anything to
address its unbearable effect on the people.
He added that even the current fuel situation, the
federal government has not yet come up with proper mechanism that would bring down
the pumping price of fuel and make it affordable and meaningful to the life of Nigerians.
"What guarantee
federal government has given its citizens that fuel and gasoline will come down
rather than going up," he asked.
He pleaded with the President Tinubu to consider it as
a matter of urgent to ensure that all domestic refineries in the country
function in full capacity before December this year.
He added that Mr President should please, not play
politics in the energy sector if he wants to succeed in controlling inflation.
He emphasized that Mr President should get that
political will to ensure that Petroleum economics that is being played, he fixes
it squarely both internationally and nationally to balance the nation's
economy.
On Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress proposed demand for wage award and minimum
wage increase, Mr Amiefamonyo said it may not have positive impact. Rather, he
averred that it will bring negative impact in the sense that the value of money
will reduce and inflation will increase and cause more harm than good into the
lives of the people.
He insisted that the NLC and TUC should take concrete
and firm decision to demand that the FG should make the Port Harcourt and Warri
refineries among others to commence full operation before December to sell fuel
at low price to mitigate the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
He also used the forum to call on the Bayelsa state
government to build modular refineries in the state.
He said that the call has become imperative, stressing
that apart from cushioning the effect on fuel subsidy removal it will generate
internal revenue for the state.
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