Importance Of FOI Law In Full Deregulation

The Federal Government of Nigeria on the first of January, 2012 announced full deregulation of the down stream petroleum sector and increased the pump price of petrol from N65.00 to N141.00 per litre.

Subsequently, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a nationwide strike asking the Federal Government to reverse back to the N65.00 per litre.  The nationwide strike which lasted for eight days, however brought untold hardships and destruction of lives and property worth billions of naira on Nigerians.

To this end, the Federal Government after due consultations and considerations with stakeholders and dialogue with the labour unions through the intervention of the National Assembly reduced and fixed the price of petrol for N97.00 per litre, directing the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to ensure compliance with the new price.

In a broadcast to the Nation, President Goodluck Jonathan assured Nigerians that his administration is irrevocably committed to tackling corruption in the petroleum industry as well as other sectors of the economy while insisting to pursue the full deregulation of the down stream petroleum sector.

As a result, palliative measures were put in place to cushion the effects of the deregulation policy which government appreciates would cause initial hardships for her citizens.

The Federal Government, therefore, is poised towards working hard to reduce recurrent expenditure in line with current realities and to cut down on the cost of governance.

Government has also commenced the implementation of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment (SURE) projects which include assisted mass transit programme already in place and job creation for the youths while the legal and regulatory regime for the petroleum industry would be reviewed to address accountability issues and current lapses in the industry.

Moreover, the Federal Government said that Petroleum Industry Bill already at the National Assembly would be given accelerated attention while the forensic audit carried out on the NNPC would be studied with a view to implementing the recommendations and sanctioning proven acts of corruption in the industry.

In addition, government has set up a Special Revenue Taskforce on Petroleum Industry headed by the best known pioneer and most successful Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu and the National Assembly also set up a three week ad-hoc committee probing subsidy regime who vowed to prosecute individuals and firms found guilty in the scam that trail subsidy payments on fuel and kerosene headed, by Farouk Lawan.

It is also a known fact that government had issued licenses to prominent Nigerians to build refineries, these licenses were issued with other palliatives to facilitate its completion.  However, these prominent Nigerians have connived with the cabal that has decided that nothing good should see the light of the day in Nigeria.  As such, no refinery has been built, while the palliatives have been used to set up these refineries at the neighbouring countries, where they take their crude allocation to, for refining and bring same back for sale in Nigeria.

All these governmental efforts geared towards good governance in the country were mapped out to strategise on how to address the problems associated to deregulation policy but the implementation lies on Nigerians as  “a tree can not make a forest’’.

However, more than seven weeks after the reduction of pump price of petrol to N97.00 per litre, it is amazing that petrol price has refused to come down to the official price and it is a known fact that marketers did not buy petrol during the strike period, so why wouldn’t filling stations sell the product at the official price of N97.00 per litre but we know that within few seconds of price increase from N65.00 to N141.00 per litre almost all the filling stations adjusted their litres upward.

Goods and services which went up as a result of the full deregulation of petrol refused to come down even when the Federal Government has announced otherwise.

Since the full deregulation and impasse associated with it, Nigerians are experiencing untold hardships, savings become difficult for most people while payment of salaries are delayed.  I met a man who had to walk from Eleme junction to park (about 18 kilometres) in Rivers State because he could not afford transport fair to and fro his office.  Another walked from Oyigbo to the Air force junction in the state on a day the state government-owned mass transit busses were not available.

Fuel scarcity has reared its ugly head again while selling of petrol in jerry-cans otherwise known as black markets have resurfaced on our roads  sides as well as queue of vehicles in filling stations which had disappeared for the past three years or more.

Time will fail me to talk of difficulties people pass through as a result of  economic sabotage.  For this country to move forward, we need reorientation and attitudinal change towards the bartered image of this country.

The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency direct and empower the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to ensure that Tankers used in the distribution of petroleum products are in good and perfect condition to avoid repetition of Lagos incident where a tanker exploded recently and killed many people.

The Federal Government should make it mandatory for the major eight  marketers to own refineries within the country and revoke all licenses issued to some prominent Nigerians which have not been put to use .

Other state governments should borrow a cue from Governor Amaechi of Rivers State who in conjunction with one foreign firm agreed to build refinery at Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state while the four refineries already in the country should be restructured in order to produce at full capacity.

In addition, jobs already created should not be made above the reach of the poor but should be shared equitably and given to the merited individuals and more so should not be hijacked by some privileged politicians while federal character must be strictly followed without fear or favour.

Government at all level should be straight forward, sincere and transparent in their policies and programmes in order to gain the trust and admiration of their people.  For example, those palliative measures mapped out by the Federal Government during the strike period should not be reduced or abandoned because the nationwide strike and impasse are over.

In carrying out developmental infrastructure, the civil societies, labour unions and other reliable organisations should be involved to monitor projects and report effectively the extent of work done to ensure that they are perfectly executed.

Good governance, I must say can only be achieved in an atmosphere void of rancour and disintegration and also all hands must be on deck and the government on her own becomes reliable, sincere, transparent and accountable to the people.

I wish to point out that we are no longer in a military regime but are now in a democracy (government of the people, for the people, by the people) where the wishes and aspirations of the people should be respected and obeyed by leaders they voted for.

In conclusion, one must not fail to commend the National Assembly for passing the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill and the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for signing it into law.  Also, we journalists will remain grateful for the way and manner we are being relieved of our duties especially in state owned media houses where production are either suspended or shut down, as obtained in Anambra State Government owned Newspaper (National Light) for trying to put the F.O.I Bill into use.

Oragwa wrote in from Port Harcourt.

Oragwa Lovinda