…seek amendment to PIA

… as NLC suspends nationwide protest over  fuel subsidy removal

Olusola Bello

For fear of losing election next year, the Federal Government on Tuesday proposed the extension of fuel subsidy removal for 18 months and is planning to seek to amend the Petroleum Industry Act to such effect.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja.

According to the minister, the Federal Government will approach the National Assembly for amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Meanwhile, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, says the decision to postpone the removal of fuel subsidy is not far from the forthcoming general elections.

He stated this on Monday during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after the government said it would postpone the removal of fuel subsidy earlier scheduled to commence in June.

“The subsidy issue is a hot potato for any government, particularly in this part of the world,” the NBA president said.

“I would have loved to think that the decision to suspend [fuel subsidy], I would have wanted to believe it is because the government cares so much about the people, and it is a government that is listening to the cries of the people, because indeed, as the minister of finance mentioned, it would be really tough if subsidy removal is implemented at this time with all of the other supervening circumstances.”

Amid outcry by labour unions and other stakeholders in the country, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said the government was reconsidering its June deadline.

She stated that fuel subsidy was provided for in the 2022 budget to run from January till June, but after consultations with stakeholders and in view of the high inflation and economic hardship, additional provisions would be made beyond the initial period.

According to the minister, it has become clear that the timing for the removal of fuel subsidy will be problematic as the country still experiences high inflation.

But Akpata has a contrary opinion to the reasons given by the minister, stressing that the government made a U-turn because of the coming elections.

“The strategists (of the government) would probably have sat down to think about it and they have told those who they advise that it would be political hara-kiri; it would be suicidal at this point in time to take out subsidy going into an election, which is just around the corner,” he stated.

“This is what I think because those kinds of hard decisions, I don’t think are the kind of decisions you want to take going into an election. Those are my thoughts.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned nationwide protest over plan by the Federal Government to remove subsidy and increase price of fuel.

The NLC is supposed to stage a nationwide protest on 27 January to move against fuel hike occasioned by planned subsidy removal.

But the Federal Government on Monday suspended its plan to remove subsidy indefinitely.

NLC’s President, Ayuba Wabba, on Tuesday said the union decided to suspend the protest after its national executive council meeting in Abuja.

He said  following the reversal and re-approach by the government, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress had an emergency virtual meeting on Tuesday morning to consider the new position of the he government.

According to him, the leadership of the Congress had communicated its decision to its civil society allies who had stood behind Nigerian workers in its quest for social and economic justice for workers and the downtrodden people of our country.

He said going forward, the union would continue to engage with the government on the very critical issues of ensuring local refining of petroleum, creation of sustainable jobs and provision of petrol at an affordable price for Nigerian workers and people.

Wabba commended the Nigerian workers and people, particularly the civil society allies, for their unwavering solidarity and support during this struggle.