We will resist petroleum subsidy removal at all costs – TUC

Tina Amanda

Trade Union Congress (TUC) has frowned at removing petroleum subsidies, describing it as an inhumane act intended to impoverish the Nigerian masses.

In an interview with our Correspondent, Rivers State TUC Chairman, Comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru, said the government can not remove subsidies without putting good infrastructures in place and fixing the nation’s refineries.

Comrade Onyefuru lamented that whoever supports the removal of petroleum subsidies are those who benefit from the subsidy, and the enemy of the nation, subjecting Nigerians to abject poverty.

“Subsidy Removal at this time is so unfortunate. Labour has never said petroleum subsidies will not be removed. Labour is saying if you have to remove petroleum subsidies, you must provide infrastructures for Nigerians and get the refineries working. How many road networks do we have? All are dilapidated as we speak.

“You have to get the road networks to work so Nigerians can choose affordable means of transport. Today, if you want to go to Lagos from Port Harcourt, you either pay one hundred and twenty (120,000) thousand or seventy-five (75) thousand naira, no alternative.

“Labour is saying no, provide alternative transportation means so that Nigerians can choose just like we have in the telecom industry. Electricity is nowhere; the medium and low-scale industries have all collapsed; these are industries that provide millions of employment for Nigerians.

“Nigeria’s unemployment rate ranks number one globally at forty-one (41) per cent. The government have not even created opportunities to employ teeming Nigerian Youths that are unemployed, and you want to remove subsidy and increase petroleum product that will impact the overall cost of goods and services, which is inhumane and unfair.

“Those who say that removal of subsidy is good are part of the problems we face in Nigeria because they are greedy and wicked. That is why a president will make a statement, and they begin to hoard petrol and dispense at a pump price greater than six hundred (600) naira per litre; it is wickedness; we will come after them”.

He further said they are on standby, waiting for directives from the national body on the following line of action.

“We are waiting for the directives from our nation; enough is enough; we must make petroleum available for Nigerians. We can not fold our hands and continue to watch very few Nigerians (cartels), who do not constitute three (3) per cent of the population, hold us to ransom.

“We will resist it, and we will ensure that legally we do what is right to protect the interest and right of Nigerians.

“Who are the people that benefit from the subsidy? Sadly, the same people talking to us from the other side of the mouth are the same people benefiting from the subsidy deal.

“It is corruption at the highest level taking away the commonwealth of Nigerians and putting back in the pocket of few Nigerians. The corrupt elite that has decided to subject Nigerians to abject poverty, we will resist them”.