NLC warns FG against increase in fuel price

APRIL 17, 2012 BY FIDELIS SORIWEI, ABUJA 

Nigeria Labour Congress has warned the Federal Government against increasing the fuel pump price amid reports of a seriously depleted Excess Crude Account.

The acting National President of the NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said in a statement on Monday that comments credited to some government officials on the issue were already pointing in the direction of the possibility of an increase in fuel pump price.

Ajaero recalled a statement credited to the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the Excess Crude Account, which rose up to $20bn under the regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had depleted to $3.6bn.

Okonjo-Iweala was also quoted as having urged Nigerians to brace  for hard times if the price of oil in the internal market drops.

Ajaero also recalled a similar statement by Central Bank Governor  Sanusi Lamido highlighting the consequences of a sharp drop in the price of crude oil in the international market.

But the labour leader  advised President Goodluck Jonathan to avoid actions capable of worsening the political and security situations in the country, stressing that such a move could only test the resolve of the people.

He said Labour would not accept any move to deepen the suffering of the masses because of “the poverty of visionary leadership in the country”.

Ajaero also warned that Labour would resist any cut in the salaries of workers or any move to reverse the N18,000 minimum wage because of the said reduction in state finances.

He said, “The NLC declares that the depletion of the nation’s funds is by the government and not the people and that the primary problem is the massive corruption in government.

“For instance, while the Presidency proclaimed that the country spent N1.3tr on fuel subsidy in 2011, the Central Bank Governor under Oath in the House of Representatives gave the subsidy paid for the same period as being over N1.7tr while the actual figures  spent were over N2.3tr.

“Also, the Presidency said the country’s daily petrol consumption is 34 million litres.  The PPPRA said it was paying subsidy for  over 59 million litres daily while independent sources during the House probe revealed that the country’s consumption is far below the Presidency’s claims.”

Ajaero also called attention to revelations made by Okonjo-Iweala under oath at the National Assembly that the NNPC was making deductions before making payments into the Federation Accounts in violation of constitutional stipulations.

SOURCE: The Punch, 17 April 2012. http://www.punchng.com/