NEWS
32 youth groups support fuel subsidy removals, plan rally
About 32 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of “Integrity Youth Alliance” have hailed the Federal Government over fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria.
The Alliance gave the commendation in a five-point communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Saturday.
In a communiqué, which was signed by the Alliance Patron, Adewole Kehinde and the National Publicity Secretary, Danjuma Lamido, the Alliance said it was a right step in the right direction.
The Alliance noted that the subsidy regime was unsustainable; adding that the best way to tackle the problem was to remove it.
Adewole said that if the money is paid as a cost of fuel subsidy was channelled into the provision of infrastructure and other social sectors of the economy, there would be growth and development.
They further recommended that the fuel subsidy regime be stopped immediately in line with the provision of the Petroleum Industry Act
They said the subsidy regime was a major challenge forcing the federal government into external borrowing.
“The fuel subsidy regime was a capitalist and elitist policy that services only the top-heavy, hence, successive governments found it difficult to implement their economic policies.
“The development was largely responsible for national debts as revenue coming into the Consolidated Revenue Fund accounts are used to settle the fuel subsidy.”
They called on the Nigeria Labour Congress not to embark on strike on account of ending subsidies but rather ensure all money saved on subsidy removal is used justly to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
“If the Nigeria Labour Congress insists on embarking protest against fuel subsidy removal, we shall embark on protest in support of fuel subsidy removal by telling Nigerians the benefits of removing fuel subsidy.
“It is time Nigerians support the Federal Government of Nigeria to end the fuel subsidy regime based on the PIA to save the sum of N1 trillion yearly as the economy of Nigeria has become very fragile given the financial burden orchestrated by the subsidy regime.
“That Nigeria is a monolithic economy as such, revenue earnings must be jealously guarded and which should be channelled into road construction, power, education, health and development of its youth.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress should be considerate and not embark on strike action in the circumstance that the Federal government has ended the fuel subsidy regime, given the reversal of huge resources back into the federal government coffers.
“The Federal Government and all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry should strictly enforce the provisions of Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which came into effect after it was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The federal government, private and public sectors should embark on sensitisation of Nigerians on the need for immediate removal of fuel subsidy to save the nation from further financial haemorrhage.
“The Alliance commends the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mal Mele Kyari for his commitment to the stability of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.”
