FG planning another fuel pump price hike — Source
•As govt, labour reconvene, Feb 22 over fuel, electricity tariff
A source at the meeting between Federal Government representatives and organized labour held at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, has disclosed that there was every indication government would increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol as the price of crude oil in the international crude market has continued to rise. The source said that at moment, the price of Bonny Light, (Nigerian Crude) was over 55 dollars per barrel.
According to the source, the body language of government’s representatives at the meeting meant for the submission of reports by bipartite technical committees on fuel price and electricity tariff was obvious.
The source said: “In the cause of the meeting, the government representatives started talking about rising crude price in the international market, and that marketing may stop importation of fuel if nothing is done urgently.
“We understood where they were going and we made it known to them that we would not accept any hike in pump price at this time, especially when the committee on the subject matter is just submitting its report on the September 2020 increase.
“In any case, we cannot say we have deregulated and still be fixing prices. Again, we cannot accept import-driven deregulation. It was agreed that we, as labour, need to consult and study the report that was just submitted because it is a technical report that was not written in plain language. Government representatives also said they should go and consult before our next meeting.”
Meanwhile, the representatives have agreed to reconvene on February 22 for consideration the reports of their bipartite technical committees on fuel price and electricity tariff.
Briefing journalists at the end of the bipartite meeting, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said they received and adopted the report of the Technical Committee on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, Pricing Framework, while that of the Electricity Tariff Committee was expected in a week’s time. Senator Ngige said organised labour requested for some time to subject the report on PMS pricing to its organs for further investigation.
He said: “It is a technical report, so they needed further investigation of the report by their own technical research team. The Technical Committee on electricity tariff has not finished. We expect the report in a week’s time. So, cogently, we are reconvening on 22nd of this month to take both reports.”
The report of the Technical Committee on PMS Pricing was presented at the meeting by Chairman of the Committee, Onochie Anyaoku, a former Executive Director, Refineries Operation and Petrol Pricing in NNPC. Anyaoku, in his presentation said that the report was hundred percent owned by the membership of the technical committee and they have all endorsed it.
He recalled that the terms of reference, jointly agreed to by the bipartite parties include to review the cost of supply and incidental commercial costs of PMS and arrive at the basis of determining market reflective pump price gap under the template of the PPPRA Act, to engage all relevant stakeholders to establish the price review framework and to carry out any other assignment that will facilitate the work of the committee
He further said the committee at its meeting on December 16 developed guiding principles and a work schedule, technical and distinct from the primary function of PPPRA, to develop a transparent methodology and a template that will serve as the guide on realistic PMS pump price and benchmark all pricing elements of the PMS pricing template, with neighbouring countries.
He said, “The comparison shall cover all fixed and variable components of PMS pricing bureau. Existing Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA template to serve as a baseline template and new additions of template incidental cost where appropriate shall be sufficiently justified.
“It is important to point out that we tried not to add. We tried to interrogate and most importantly, we tried not to add any inefficiencies of the delivery logistics of PMS to the public. So, basically, we interrogated every line item on the PPRA template. “I must point out that the Act establishing PPPRA is very comprehensive and very inclusive, if implemented as intended. I must also show here that the import base of PMS, essentially places very narrow latitude for cost reduction in price determination.
“Based on extensive review of the pricing framework and in line with the terms of reference of the committee, the following recommendations were proposed and adopted:
The PPPRA to convene periodic meetings with PPMC and other importers to ensure actual cost of supply reflective determination as an interim solution.
“NLC, TUC, PENGASSON and NUPENG to witness the transparent determination at the periodic meeting. PPPRA frequently monitor data of Rotterdam supply chain values. This should continue to form the basis of price determination until the West African basket is liquid and transparent enough to warrant its adoption in the pricing template.
“All importers including NNPC to adopt the same forex window used by PPPRA to ensure alignment and accurate pricing. PPRA board to adopt weighted average as the basis of determination.
“Government to enforce immediate collection of NPA and NIMASA charges in naira to reduce pressure on forex demand and pump price hike. To develop adequate communication strategy on the necessity of deregulation and the benefit to the people, to create public awareness and gain acceptability of deregulation, which will reduce the pressure on labour to react to fuel increase.”
“Deregulation is a huge change in national policy but highly desirable in this stage of our national development policy, for which its implementation requires trust building steps and commitment to visible frugal spending by government. Intensive and sustained communication between government and stakeholders is mandatory to reassure citizens when price change, especially in upward trajectory.
“Government should consider certain projects targeted at winning the confidence of Nigerians on the key benefits of deregulation.”
The Report of the Technical Committee on PMS Pricing Framework was an offshoot of the ongoing bipartite engagement between the Federal Government and the organised labour unions.
The membership of the committee include the representatives of NLC, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSON, PPPRA, PEF, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning as well as Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Why we’re inaugurating mega political party next month
— Utomi, Na’abba, Agbakoba, Moghalu, others
LEADERS of the National Consultative Front, NCF, a frontline political pressure group, have given a gloomy picture of Nigeria, with a grim verdict that the country has fallen.
The group in a statement, titled “Open Memo to all Nigerians Citizens of Conscience and Stakeholders”, said it has resolved to inaugurate a new mega political party next month to save Nigeria; by mobilizing for a new peoples’ constitution for Nigeria, as a basis for sponsoring credible candidates for the 2023 general and presidential elections.
The statement was signed by Prof. Pat Utomi, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba; former President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed; andcProf Kingsley Moghalu. Others are Dr Obadiah Mailafia, Prof Mrs Remi Sonaiya, Comrade Issa Aremu; Prof Chidi Odinkalu; Chief Precious Elekima; Arch Ezekiel Nya-Etok; Dr Tanko Yunusa and Peter Ameh. The group said: “Since its formation in July, 2020, the National Consultative Front, NCFront has come to terms with the fact that political power is crucial to the realization of its goals and objectives for a new, prosperous Nigeria.
“So the NCF will not hesitate to seek political power to lead and govern Nigeria as a credible alternative peoples’ movement to the two dominant political parties and their cohorts in Nigeria, but not desperately or precipitately.
“To this extent, we wish to state that the NCF will not be fixated on the power politics of 2023 but rather in first mobilising Nigerians for a brand new people’s constitution that can enable Nigeria work for all and be rid of corruption and self aggrandizement in politics and in government.
“The point being made here is that the ideological plan of action for our mega political mass movement, now to be launched, following due consideration of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, by the end of March, 2021, is to, first and foremost, pursue popular democratic constitutional reworking and remaking of Nigeria to give the country a new constitutional template that will enable it embrace a new legitimate political structure and national legal framework that can essentially make politics less juicy, attractive and corruptive but service oriented and values driven for mass prosperity.
“Therefore, the new mass political movement shall be expected to immediately embark on a vigorous mobilisation for a new peoples constitution for Nigeria and it is after the struggle is won by the peoples of Nigeria that the movement in form of a credible alternative mega party to the APC and PDP, shall be expected to venture into the second phase of its agenda, which shall be to present and sponsor credible candidates for electoral power, as a mega movement party and mass ideological platform for pursuing the good governance and prosperity of Nigeria.
“In other words, our emergent mass movement shall be expected to first mobilize Nigerians home and abroad for a new Nigeria through democratic constitutional restructuring of the country before venturing into electoral power politics.
‘’This shall be sequel to the sealing of a democratic merger and fusion of all the credible political parties and groups within the fold of the Front, (taking a cue from the advice of former INEC Chair, Prof Attahiru Jega, during our national consultation on internal party democracy last year) as one indivisible formidable alternative political bloc, when the time comes.
‘’In essence, what we shall be launching is an alternative political class and credible political leadership that can step forward to lead the country any time, even in the event of any emergency.”
Why IGP Adamu cannot leave office
Top security sources disclosed that as it was with the military service chiefs, any attempt by the Inspector General of Police to vacate his seat when a replacement has not been announced or an extension granted officially, would amount to mutiny against the Commander- in -Chief.
Though it is no secret that some persons, including governors, emirs and certain interests had been lobbying to have Adamu’s tenure extended, the IGP himself is said to be prepared for what President Buhari will decide. ‘But since Mr. President has not called him or directed anybody to him with regards to how the status quo should be handled, he has no choice but to wait in the interim,” a source said yesterday.
Consequently, IGP Adamu reported dutifully to office at Lois Edet House yesterday and carried out his duties, especially with regards to his directive to Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Command Cps relating to COVID-19 protocols enforcement in the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
However, investigations revealed that going by the new Police Act which stipulated five years tenure for the next IGP, the most senior South East officer who would have been in the reckoning for the next IGP, DIG Joseph Egbunike, has a few months to retire. So the appointment of the next IGP will be among those that fall in the group of officers that have between four years and above.
In the alternative, sources said President Buhari might consider the ongoing implementation of the community policing strategy which was midwifed by IGP Adamu and give time to implement the policy.
Those who can still meet the criteria of becoming IGP and staying in service for five years, if chosen, are Acting DIG Moses Jitoboh, AIG Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa and AIG Dasuki Galadanchi. While Jitoboh has up to nine years left in the force, both Inuwa and Galandanchi have just over four year left to serve in the force.
Others said to be in contention include AIG Ibrahim Zanna and Mustapha Dan Daura. Zanna is the Commandant POLAC, Kano, while Dan Daura is the Force Secretary at Force headquarters.
NMA to FG: Invest in R&D to stop over-dependence on US, Europe for COVID-19 vaccines
Making the call recently, the NMA President, Prof Innocent Ujah, said the only way Nigeria would stop its over dependence on the United States and Europe for the vaccines was to develop its own local manufacturing potential through realistic investment in health research.
Ujah, who described investment as the driver of development, said Nigeria possessed the capacity to make significant gains in health research and development lamented that the lack of funding was a major drawback.
“I was the Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, between 2010 and 2016. I worked with the Director-General of Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD, very closely and we found that Nigeria was not ready to support research.
“We are supposed to be working with the NIPRD so that once they finish their laboratory services we would go ahead with clinical trials, unfortunately, there is no investment. The government and the private sector philanthropists are not prepared to support research and development in Nigeria.
“We have the capacity, but capacity alone without funding will not solve our problem, so my prayer is let us have a rethink and see how we can invest in research and development, he remarked.”
Decrying the dwindling fortunes of health research, Ujah said Nigeria needed to do more.
“We need to do something about advanced stage of research and vaccine production, ordinary data, provision, or documentation, we have not been doing it very effectively during this pandemic, but the truth of the matter is that we need to re-orientate ourselves, there is no country that develops without research, it is the driver, we need to set our priorities right so that we invest in research, it does not matter if it is, anyone we need to research.”
Calling on the private sector contribute to national development through health research, Ujah called for sustainable partnerships with the government, even as he observed that the US and Europe produced COVID-19 vaccines within 9 months as a result of commitment, based on the fact that it can be done.
“I believe that if we are able to re-orientate ourselves, reorganise our thoughts and give political will to help R&D, we should be able to do well, unfortunately, all these are wishes. We need to have a crack team that will work for Nigeria and bring out what it takes to carry out credible research because we have the capacity and only need funding.
“At the moment we rely on Europe and the US for the COVID-19 vaccines, they are not ready and willing to sell to poor countries in Africa, so why should we wait for them? We should put our heads together, put our instruments together, and put our thoughts together.
“We can organise ourselves properly, we should be able to help ourselves, because their scientific knowledge and skill is not different from ours, we only need to sharpen our skill and go to the laboratory and produce what we believe will help us.
“So the over-dependence on America and Europe should begin to dwindle only when political commitment is in place and we are committed to carrying out credible research, not all these people who would go to the lab today and tomorrow they say they have a cure for COVID-19, all those are charlatans. We can do better than what we are currently doing but we need all the support.”
Foreigners perpetrating crimes in our forests — Akeredolu
•Don’t set S-West on fire, NANS tells Igboho
This came on a day the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in Ogun State, yesterday, urged the self-acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to review his strategy, urging him to explore dialogue and consultation with relevant stakeholders in the South-West to find lasting solutions to the activities of killer-herdsmen in the region.
Governor Akeredolu, who also backed Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for proposing ban on movement from the North to the South, said this when the zonal coordinator Zone ‘F’ of the Nigeria Immigration Service, ACG Dora Amahian, visited him at his office.
Akeredolu said: “We all know what this service is established to do. It’s clear to us. The number of people who come into Nigeria through the land border is becoming alarming.
“Knowing your efforts to secure our borders, we are worried about some foreigners that come in and are almost permanent in our forest reserves. I know several criminal activities that are being perpetrated in our reserves that are done by foreigners.
“Yes. Foreigners. They might be Fulani but they are not Nigerians. I think there must be collaborations but collaborations with other security agencies. That way you can function well and achieve more results. Collaborate with security agencies like Amotekun.
“Peace is very important to us, not only in the South-West or Ondo State but peace in the country. All over the country, we are being ravaged by foreigners.”
The governor, who commended Governor Ganduje said: “We must stand together. I commend the Governor of Kano State who said cows should not be moved to the south again for grazing.”
Don’t set S-West on fire, NANS tells Igboho
Meanwhile, the students’ body, who made the call while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, said the call became imperative to avoid a major crisis in the country.
The Chairman of NANS/Ogun Joint Campus Committee, JCC, Kehinde Simeon called on the state government to consider the registration of all herdsmen within the borders of Ogun state, ban open grazing and fast track the inauguration of the Amotekun Corps to further combat insecurity around our campuses.
Igboho had on Monday stormed troubled areas in Yewaland, Ogun State, in continuation of his anti-killer herdsmen battle in Yorubaland.
Kehinde said: “We understand Igboho, but it is our view that he should meet with Yoruba leaders like Afenifere and other stakeholders. This has become important so as not to set the entire South-West region on fire and cause anarchy.
“We observe that Igboho’s strategy, if not reviewed, may lead to ethnic or tribal war. We, therefore, urge him to liaise with the appropriate authorities to avoid a major disaster.”
Culled from Vanguard
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