The Movement Against Corruption in Nigeria (MAC), has condemned in its entirety, the proposal by the Federal Government of Nigeria to further pauperise Nigerians through a total deregulation of the oil sector.
MAC recalls former President Obasanjo’s infamous administration which administration was characterised with incessant fuel price increases in the name of deregulation. As it later turned out, the eight years of deregulation policy like that of privatization never brought any attendant positive benefits but untold ceaseless hardship to the Nigerian citizenry, while the government, its cronies and their associates benefited from the anti-people policies with the attendant massive corruption and strangulation of the Nigerian economy
MAC observes with pain that whenever general election approaches in Nigeria , the government usually finds excuses to hike prices of petroleum products so as to line the pockets of politicians for “do or die” contest. The suffering of the Nigerian people is already too obvious and no longer acceptable. Any additional hike in petroleum products necessarily dovetails into greater transportation costs, hike in food prices, health care, and education. This will surely ultimately throw the country into another round of crisis and may spell doom for 2011 general elections.
“It is indeed unfortunate that Nigeria, in spite of her rich endowment in human and natural resources, is still grappling with baseline existential issues of economic survival, human rights, transparency, accountability, probity, federalism, and good governance. Nowhere is this tragic irony more obvious than the Niger Delta, an area which in spite of the high intensity of natural resources harbours the most deprived population anywhere in the world.
The Movement Against Corruption in Nigeria (MAC), therefore, calls on President Umaru Yar’Adua to put in abeyance the plan to further deregulate the oil sector as any effort to increase the pains of already poverty-battered and demoralized citizens of this country will amount to an open invitation to confrontation.
All that Nigerians are yearning for now, and demanding from President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is to as a matter of urgency empower the EFCC, ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to honestly fight corruption and stop the current insincere campaign against corruption in the country.
It urged the government to immediately make public details of the oil cartel undermining the oil sector, halt the policy of deregulation and bring down the prices of foods, petrol, kerosene, diesel, cooking gas, GSM tariffs, and other social services; as well as restore decaying social services like education, health care system, housing and public transportation; and reconstruct roads to prevent unwarranted deaths and energise the economy.
The movement called on government to reform Nigeria ‘s electoral system in line with the recommendations of Justice Muhammed Lawal Uwais Panel to guaranty free and fair elections in 2011; and also institute a transparent probe into the alleged N750 million fraud involving Nigerian officials and the Australian government owned company, Securency International Pty Ltd in the polymer notes.