The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has warned the Federal Government not to contemplate the removal of the subsidy on petrol without local refining capacity, in view of its socio-economic implications on businesses and Nigerians.
According to the Union, members are not averse to the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, but the Federal Government must ensure that local refineries are put into full operation before such a major policy decision is taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.
This was part of a communiqué issued by NUPENG leaders at the end of the union’s National Executive Council, NEC, in meeting Lagos.
NEC had deliberated on the state of the nation, especially after the conduct of the 2023 general elections and the increasing statements from Nigerians on the intention of the Federal Government to end the PMS subsidy regime, among others.
The communiqué was signed by the President and General Secretary of NUPENG, Prince Williams Akporeha, and Afolabi Olawale, respectively.
It noted that “NEC-in-Council also examined the recurrent discussions for the removal of subsidy from the Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, and expresses deep concerns over the failure of the Federal Government to do the needful as advised by Organised Labour that deregulation of the PMS should not be predicated on importation of the product because of all the obvious negative impacts on the socio-economic life of the people and nation in general.
“The Council-in-session expressed disappointment in the failure of the government to deliver on its promises of making the three national refineries work before contemplating the removal of the subsidy on this very important economic item in view of the enormous implication and the impact on the economic activities and considering the socio-economic importance of PMS to ordinary Nigerians.
“The NEC-in-session reaffirms that in as much as our Union is not averse to the removal of PMS subsidy, the Federal Government must ensure that our local refineries are put into full operation before a such major policy decision is taken in the interest of the generality of Nigerians”.
On the just-concluded general elections, NUPENG vowed to resist any attempt to foist interim or undemocratic government on Nigeria after May 29, as being speculated.
It expressed concerns over the increasing and unending spread of hate, ethnic and religious bigotry by politicians, religious leaders, elites and the youths in the periods leading to and after the conducts of the 2023 general elections to the detriment of the peace, unity, and coexistence of the people of Nigeria.
The Union in its communiqué informed that the “Council-in-session unanimously agreed that though the election may not be perfect or meet the pre-conceived outcome of some individuals, in every election like all games, a winner must emerge as well as losers and that there are ample provisions in the electoral laws of the country for any aggrieved party to seek redress rather than heating up the polity and polarising the country.
“All aggrieved individuals and parties should do what is expected of any decent and law-abiding democrat, which is to concede defeat, congratulate the winner or go to tribunal to seek redress.
“The NEC-in Session affirms that the 2023 general elections marked another watershed in the democratic journey of our nation wherein the youths adequately mobilised and participated in the electoral processes, and wherein the political parties of 20 sitting governors lost to opposition parties and quite unlike before wherein seven sitting governors lost their bids to become Senators after their tenure expired as governors of their respective states.
“The Council-in-session admits that without any doubt there are still some irregularities in the conducts of the election but opines that rather than fan embers of division and disillusionment among Nigerians, patriotic Nigerians should rise in unison to galvanize the citizenry to mend broken relationships and heal whatever wounds might have been inflicted on one another and collectively strive towards improving our electoral processes as we move forward.
“The Council-in-session condemns in very strong terms the inciting and seditious statements of some individuals, who were in very unfortunate manners calling out the Military to take over power, and people to take up arms against the inauguration of a new government/installation of an interim government.
“The NEC-in-Council finds those statements most irresponsible, reprehensible, and very unfortunate.
“The NEC-in-session reiterates that NUPENG as a Trade Union is widely known to have fought and sacrificed the lives of our members and leaders for the restoration of democracy in the country and shall not sit on the fence and watch some undesirable elements drag this nation back to that path of the dark days.
“We will definitely resist all agents of destabilization and put all our resources and might on the table for the growth and development of democracy in our country.”