George Oji From and Damilola Oyedele
29 October 2009
Abuja — Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has said one of the major reasons for rejecting the deregulation policy of the Federal Government is because of its firm belief that corruption and self aggrandisement are the major problems of the country's oil industry, and not subsidy.
The body, therefore, promised to reveal names of some Nigerians who stand to benefit from the deregulation policy, adding that today's mass protest would be taken to the National Assembly, to register its displeasure with the Federal Government through Senate President, Senator David Mark, and Speaker of the House, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, with an assurance to make the protest peaceful and successful.
This is as Minister of Labour and Productivity, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, yesterday appealed to NLC and its affiliates not to go ahead with the planned mass demonstration to protest the planned deregulation of the downstream sector and implementation of the Justice Lawal Uwais report on electoral reforms.
In a statement made available to THISDAY via email, from NLC's national headquarters in Abuja, the body alleged that there had been a deliberate weakening and incapacitation of Nigeria's refineries through a deceptive 'Turn- Around- Maintenance.'
According to the Congress, the instability in the supply anddistribution of petroleum products is due to inefficiencies in the management of Petroleum Support Fund.
He said Nigerian governments have imbibed a policy of frequent increase of petroleum products, which has always resulted in more hardship for the masses.
"Congress believes that that is why there is the desperation from those with vested interests and who hold key positions inthis government to embark on deregulation full throttle. We shall, in the process of the struggle, avail Nigerians the names of some key personalities in this government who are interested in deregulation solely for their personal interests," the statement read.
"Against the background of the resistance of the Nigerian people led by the NLC and the Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) to deregulation of petroleum products' prices, the Nigerian government decided on a policy of frequent increases in the prices of petroleum products. Thus, from January 6, 1978, to May 27, 2007, the various Nigerian regimes increased fuel prices a total of 18 times. Most of the increases occurred in the 1999 to 2007 period when petroleum products prices were adjusted upwards sometimes even twice in one year," it read.
The body reiterated that the rally was not to resist the deregulation policy alone, but to seek implementation of the electoral reform panel report, and to secure decent wages for Nigerian workers. It also called on the Federal Government to stop importation of refined petroleum products by fixing and establishing refineries.
Meanwhile, the Congress disclosed that today's rally would commence at Berger Junction through Wuse Market to the National Assembly Complex, where labour leaders, including NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, and President General of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, are expected to formally present their demands to Senator David Mark and Hon. Dimeji Bankole.
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