N385 per litre of Petrol: CAN, TUC, PENGASSAN, CNG, others against Govs’ proposal

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria, CAN, Trade Union of Nigeria, TUC, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and umbrella body for pro-Labour Civil Society Organizations, Joint Action Front, JAF, have reacted angrily to the Nigeria Governors'  Forum recommendation that the petrol pump price increase to N385 per litre.

The Governors Forum made the recommendation during their last virtual meeting on Wednesday night, with aim to make case for full deregulation, recommending petrol price at N385 per litre.

However, outrage has greeted the Forum's recommendation by CAN, TUC, PENGASSAN, Labour others, accusing the governors of living in a fools paradise.

The labour and co also accused the governors of failing to appreciate the suffering and the hardships across the country, and warned that the recommendation of the governors would cause socio-economic upheaval if accepted and implemented  by the federal government.

It would be recalled that the NGF, after considering the report of its committee headed by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, accepted the recommendation that backed full deregulation of petrol, and recommended that the pump price of PMS should hover around N385 per litre.

Reacting, CAN’s Vice Chairman (Northern Region), Reverend John Hayab, said: “Where will the Nigerian masses run to? It’s shocking to note that in spite of the prevailing hardship the people are facing, dovernors are seeking to double the cost of fuel. 

‘’Does the NGF really care about the pains and suffering Nigerians are experiencing at all The governors should not fund their respective budgets by making things difficult for the people.”

He also said the federal and state governments should look inwards and effect the necessary adjustments to boost the economy rather than support the hike of the pump price of petrol by over 100 per cent.

“So, the various governments should look inwards and make adjustments that will help the economy instead of seeking to increase the pump price of petrol, because doing otherwise will only add to the misery of the masses.” 

Recommendation inhuman, unacceptable —TUC

On his part, President of TUC, Quadiri Olaleye, said:  “The recommendation is unfortunate, preposterous and inhuman. To consider this at a time most state governments cannot even pay N30, 000 minimum wage and workers are losing jobs is inexplicable.

‘’It took torganised labour years to negotiate the new wage that has been eroded by inflation. The cost of living has become astronomically high, to the extent that a large number of Nigerians cannot feed. 

‘’It is obvious in our streets as houses are daily being burgled and kidnapping has become an industry. There is hunger in the land.

‘’Farmers cannot go to their farms due to the insecurity challenge and hunger is staring us in the face. This economy can be better managed if only government can shun politics and be open to ideas from patriotic Nigerians who are not members of the ruling party.

‘’We reject the N385 pump price a litre governors’ recommendation and want to seize this opportunity to warn that the pressure being put on the masses is becoming unbearable. Nigerians are overstretched and it is dangerous for the country.

It can’t fly — PENGASSAN

Also, reacting, the  General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Lumumba Okwugbawa, said: “Their recommendation will not fly because nobody understands the template they used in arriving at their recommendations. For example, what is the landing cost of the imported PMS?

“PENGASSAN has always supported a deregulation based on local production. Any deregulation based on or driven by importation is bound to cause serious challenges because we are not in control of the fluctuations of oil prices and exchange rates.”

Govs’ proposal unreasonable – CNG

Also reacting yesterday, the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, said it was unreasonable for the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to propose an increase in the pump price of petrol from N162 to N385 at a time the country was in dire economic situation.

CNG spokesman, Suleiman Abdul-Azeez, said such a proposal was inauspicious at a time the nation  was struggling to pull itself from the brinks, adding that what the country needed was improvement in the quality of life of the people.

Abdul-Azeez, who noted that the coalition had placed all its affiliates on notice of an impending mass action to force an unconditional reversal in the event of any hike, said:  “Our reaction as usual is that the proposal of the governors is unreasonable as almost all their decisions on major national issues have been. The only remaining option is for Nigerians to mobilize and reject any further increase in fuel pump prices.

“On our part, we have placed all our affiliates on notice of an impending mass action to force an unconditional reversal in the event of any hike.

“Meanwhile, we condemn the Governors’ proposal as insensitive and completely unacceptable. No responsible government would think of adding to the present dire situation of a country that is already at the brinks.

“It is an irony that a government that came to power on the back of promises of improving the quality of life of the people would within a few years assume the reputation of being the worst in the history of Nigeria. Buhari’s government that has lost its courage and necessary capacity to secure its citizens is certainly a failed administration.’’

We support full deregulation — NECA

Meanwhile, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, said while governors’ position was just a recommendation, it was in support of full deregulation of downstream sector of the petroleum industry to allow market forces prevail

NECA’s Director-General, Dr. Timothy Olawale, told Vanguard that the governors’ view “is a proposal and every Nigerian is entitled to their opinion. 

‘’NECA supports the full deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, in which case market forces should be allowed to prevail

“We reiterate our call to the government to revamp our refining capacity by rehabilitating existing refineries, encourage the thriving of modular refineries and encourage massive investment by the private sector in product refineries through incentives. This way, the pain associated with deregulation will be assuaged.”

We remain opposed to deregulation, privatization — JAF

However, Secretary of JAF, Abiodun Aremu, said in his reaction:  “Our stance remains struggle to defeat the neo-liberal policies of privatization and deregulation which should be anchored on agenda of system change.

“What do we mean by system change? Nigeria is rich. The wealth belongs to the people. Most Nigerians are hungry, have no jobs, no education, no healthcare, no potable water, no electricity supply and no affordable transportation. 

‘’Most Nigerians cannot feed their families or educate their children. Those who are lucky to have jobs are not much different. They also cannot afford a decent living for their families. On the other hand, there is a very tiny group of Nigerians who have cornered the wealth that belongs to the working people and the poor, who are in the majority. 

“They loot the treasury and use their stolen wealth to sustain themselves in power through their political parties. They use their power to get richer and richer when the poor get poorer and poorer.  This is a system of exploitation and oppression. 

‘’It is the system that brings out the army and the police to kill poor people when they protest against oppression and exploitation. We want to change that system and replace it with a system where the working people and the millions of people who are sufferings under the system of exploitation will win power and ensure that the wealth of Nigeria is used to ensure a good life for majority of the people who are now exploited and oppressed. 

‘’System change is not replacing one exploiter’s government by another exploiter’s government. It is replacing an exploiter’s government by a people’s government to reorganise Nigeria and put an end to exploitation and oppression.

“The system change we want will unite the vast majority of our people under a government that will organise the working people and oppressed poor to boost our productive capacities and use resources for sustainable economic and social advancement, thereby reversing our economic dependency and restoring our dignity as an independent country. 

‘’The government of the working people will take care of all Nigerians, no matter where they come from, their religion, where they live, and their sex. It will care for all Nigerians dehumanised by the rule of the oppressors”.

Govs’ proposal for petrol price hike to N385 per litre unreasonable – CNG

The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, on Thursday said it was unreasonable for the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to propose an increase in the pump price of petrol from N162 to N385 at a time the country is in a dire economic situation.

CNG spokesman, Suleiman Abdul-Azeez, said  that such a proposal was inauspicious at a time the nation is struggling to pull itself from the brinks, adding that what the country needed was improvement in the quality of life of the people.

Abdul-Azeez, who stated this in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, said that the coalition has placed all its affiliates on notice of an impending mass action to force an unconditional reversal in the event of any hike.

“Our reaction as usual is that the proposal of the governors is unreasonable as almost all their decisions on major national issues have been. The only remaining option is for Nigerians to mobilize and reject any further increase in fuel pump prices.

“On our part, we have placed all our affiliates on notice of an impending mass action to force an unconditional reversal in the event of any hike.

“Meanwhile, we condemn the Governors’ proposal as insensitive and completely unacceptable. No responsible government would think of adding to the present dire situation of a country that is already at the brinks.

“It is an irony that a government that came to power on the back of promises of improving the quality of life of the people would within a few years assume the reputation of being the worst in the history of Nigeria. Buhari’s government that has lost its courage and necessary capacity to secure its citizens is certainly a failed administration,” he said.

Ban on open grazing: MACBAN backs govs

The National Patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN ,Senator Walid Jibrin, has said that a ban on open grazing will help to address farmers -herders crisis in the country.

He, therefore, commended the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for placing a ban on open grazing and called on Fulani organizations to unite as one.

Speaking at a press   conference in Kaduna yesterday,Senator Jibrin ,

the Sarkin Fulani Nasarawa, said “most importantly, the various Fulani associations with membership up to 50 must come together and talk with one voice on this tradition of open grazing and not necessarily allow any group to come out to do it for them”

According to him, cattle rearing has been on in Africa for over 100 years without any consideration to free movement of cattle (open grazing) or any grazing reserve.

“This was so because at that time, there were few herders, farmers and cattle, especially in Nigeria.  Today, the population of both has increased, with modern technique of farming consuming land tremendously,” he said.

He explained that with the current international concern on cattle rearing in Africa, especially Nigeria, there was need to look at how best this practice will be carried out successfully.

He said:  “We must note that land in Nigeria is owned by individuals, federal, and state governments.  

‘’As a full-blooded Fulani man, Sarkin Fulani, and Patron, Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, and concerned Fulani leader in Nigeria, I have a free mind on anyone recommending a ban on open grazing, free movement of herders, and cattle in Nigeria because the practice is getting outdated internationally and , therefore necessary, for Nigeria, especially the Fulani race, to study critically the traditional open grazing ,believing that the 21st century may never accommodate it.

“When you look at the practice of open grazing in Nigeria, compared with what is happening internationally, Nigeria can never continue with traditional open grazing practice. 

‘’In order to effect a change, Fulani elite should be bold enough to come out with alternatives to open grazing and advise the Fulanis in Nigeria accordingly.

“Federal and state governments should come to the rescue by providing grazing reserves, equipped with hospitals, nomadic schools, electricity, bore holes, cattle markets with modern slaughtering centres, open market to our Fulani women to enable them remain in one place to sell milk, instead of their house-to-house roaming about exposing our rich culture and religion.

“I have fully observed the feeling of many groups and individuals in Nigeria about open grazing. There is so much condemnation from Nigerian governors, Northern governors, Southern governors etc. 

‘’These groups and individuals should never be condemned and must be praised for their bold comments trying to modernize and improve cattle rearing in Nigeria. Another reason we should shy away from open grazing is the way old methods of settlements of crises between herdsmen and farmers have been abandoned.

“The role of the traditional rulers, especially the village heads, district heads are daily being neglected by both herdsmen and farmers, leaving it in the hands of the Police, courts and other law enforcement agencies agencies. 

‘’Because of poverty and lack of full education, some Fulani children are involved in some unholy acts which will surely be remedied by provision of grazing reserves.

‘May I seize this opportunity to congratulate all the governors for the bold steps they are taking to solve the menace of open grazing, kidnapping and banditry. In the South West, the recent action by the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, is very commendable.

‘’I also commend him for shying away from the call asking all Hausas and Fulanis to leave the South West. I also condemn any call from the North that all Hausas and Fulani should leave the South West.

“Nigeria must remain one entity, against what is happening now. We should rely more on dialogue, and mediation with herders, Fulani leaders, traditional rulers and our governors in order to end this feud. 

‘’Our traditional rulers must also be encouraged to participate in dialogue between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.  For now, traditional rulers should be kept off from handling of herdsmen and farmers problems.

“Of course, our traditional rulers must be given a proper role in the Nigerian constitution. May I strongly advise that the federal and state governments should assist tremendously in providing inputs into the recommended grazing reserve land in all the states of the federation and they should continue to be herdsmen/farmer’ friendly.

“In order to discourage open grazing, the federal government should stop the entry of Ccattle to Nigeria from ECOWAS countries by amending the Article 3 of ECOWAS Protocol, especially referring to free movement of cattle and other livestock without any special undertaking.

“I strongly appeal to the federal and state governments to maintain all existing grazing reserves by providing special amenities mentioned in my earlier suggestions. It is also necessary that government uses the services of the World Bank to archive all plans that will come out of well modernized grazing reserves in Nigeria.’’