Meanwhile A joint statement by the Acting General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and General Secretary of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa and Chief John Kolawole also categorically dissociated organised labour from any plot to change the present regime in the country through the mass action spearheaded by it and assured that whenever the government was ready and called labour for further meeting, it would attend without conditions.
The statement read in part: ”Labour’s analysis of the situation is that tension is very high in the land following the fuel price increase, the resultant strikes, rallies and street protests and the human causalties that have followed.And that a suspension of the new petrol prices will reducetension and return the country to normalcy. We decided to make a plea to President Goodluck Jonathanin the overriding interest of the country to suspend the PMS (petrol) price increases and direct that talks betweengovernment and Labour be concluded on the petroleum industry especially at it affects fuel subsidy and pricing within a short time frame.
“We made a pledge that oncethe price increase suspension is announced, Labour and its allies will immediately suspend the strikes, rallies and street protests. The summary of Labour’s position at the meeting was that talks and consultations were on-goingbefore government aborted them by announcing the 120-220 per cent increase inthe price of petrol, and that itis necessary to return to the status quo in order to douse tension, return the country to normalcy and allow for a conducive atmosphere for consultations and talks. However, Government’s only offer was to reduce the new prices while declining to allow a phased price increase. We think that the government position will notreturn the country to normalcy. The Labour Movement pledges that whenever and wherever government invites us for talks, we shall be there without any conditionality.”
Objectives of the Strikes and Protests
Continuing, the statement said: “The Labour Movement once again reiterate that the strikes, rallies and street protests must be peaceful and that the objective is the reversal of the petrol (PMS) prices to their pre-January 1, 2012 level. We are therefore not campaigning for ‘RegimeChange’. The Labour Movement is wedded to democracy, therefore, anybody or group that wantsa change in the political leadership of the country at whatever level, should do so through the ballot box.
“The Labour Movement and its Civil Society allies are also saddened by the unprecedented loss of lives and injuries sustained during the indefinite strikes, rallies and street protests that commenced from Monday January 9, 2012. We reiterate that those who visitviolence on protesters and their masters who gave suchevil orders will individually bebrought to justice.”
FG warns hoodlums to steer clear of rallies
Meanwhile, the Federal government has warned thatif the organised labour continues with protests and rallies today, hoodlums must stay away from the protests or else they will be dealt withruthlessly.
According to the Federal government, it has become imperative for it to take that decisive action of crushing the hoodlums because hijacking the strike and turning it into a riot was not the intention of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress and Civil society Organisations.
Answering questions from Journalists yesterday after the laying of wreath to mark the end of 2012 Armed forces Remembrance Day, Minister of Defence, Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello who urged Nigerians not to panic as security is assured in the country, however stressed the need for everybody to continue to live wherever he is living now as nobody has the power to ask anybody to leave.
DIG cautions policemen on use of fire arms at rallies
The Deputy Inspector Generalof Police (DIG) in charge operations, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, has urged policemen to be extra cautious on the use of firearms at public rallies.
Speaking to newsmen in Yolaon yesterday, Abubakar said the role of the police was to provide security to everyone including protesters as far asthose protesters were withinthe confines of the law.
Abubalkar, who was in Yola to assess security situation and monitor protests againstthe removal of fuel subsidy, said so far the protests in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe had been peaceful.
“The main reason why we are in Yola is because we want to talk to our officers and men to ensure that they exercise extreme caution in handling the situation because this is a democratic dispensation and therefore whatever we are doing particularly policing should be democratic.
This is an empowering and motivating blog,LIVE gists, updates, news, information are readily available.. whenever you visit, you are always welcomed
Sunday 15 January 2012
Friday 13 January 2012
Ben Bruce Plan:- "SUBSIDIZING THE POOR"
The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria recently held a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the removal of Fuel subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which has now beenimplemented.
At that Debate, I came up with a transportation solution to the subsidy issue which allows government to remove the subsidy and at the same time subsidise the transport sector with a fraction of the savings from the subsidy removal, with a net effect of no transport fare increase in the post subsidy era.
My proposal, which is now christeneted ‘THE BEN BRUCE PLAN: SUBSIDISING THE POOR’is now more urgent in order to reduce the hardship which Nigerians have startedto experience since the January 1, 2012 subsidy removal!
A good plan is only as important as the willingness to execute it. Since Independence in 1960, successive Administrations have paid little attention to the Poor. Government has played the role of Robin Hood, unfortunately though in reverse, they have taken from the Poor to subsidise and sustain the Rich.
I urge The Federal Government to reverse that role and play the real Robin Hood, and now take from theRich and give to the Poor. This simply means that they must ensure that the Rich make the same sacrifice that the Poor have made and continue to make.
After all, it is not a sin to be poor. The Government of Nigeria must practice what itpreaches, if it does and implements the Ben Bruce Transport Policy, it will go a long way in easing the untold hardship the increase in the cost of Petrol will have on The Nigerian masses.
THE BEN BRUCE.
TRANSPORT POLICY is simple, realistic and very achievable. It is to provide affordable, sustainable, comfortable, reliable and modern mass transit system for Nigerians without fare increase and refleeting the national rollingstock (buses and taxis) and the provision of transport infrastructures (bus depot, bus terminals, bus shelters and laybys).
The Government needs to setup the National Transport Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and State transport Regulatory Authority (STAs) to implement this programme.
Murray-Bruce: Bayelsansare in for a great time
One of the focal points of my plan, is that all School Children in Uniform, senior Citizens over 60 and Children under 10 must travel free of charge by Public Transportation under this plan.
My plan guarantees stabilization of transport fares, massive employment generation, create new national identity through The‘Buses and Taxis’ that would be celebrated around the country and offer a breath offresh air rather than the gloom and doom that have pervaded the national scene in recent times. The details ofmy plan have been worked with global transport expertsand would be in the public domain soon!
To implement this plan, I propose $2b annually for 10 years. This will re-invent and re- build the Transport sectorof Nigeria and alleviate the sufferings of the Nigerian people and at the same time grow our Economy.
I demand for the Nigerian masses a $500m subsidy fund to subsidise Bus and Taxi services in Nigeria. I want that subsidy at 50% of the cost for all Nigerians. Many other developing and advanced Economies have subsidised their Transport Sectors.
For instance, Brazil by 70%, South Africa by 34%, Chile by 57%, the UK by 49%, Belgium by 69% and finland by 65%. We all know the problems that have plagued our Nation for Decades, we all know the untold hardship our people have been through, and so did the Afrobeat Legend Fela Anikulapo- Kuti as emphasised in many of his songs and a fraction of the subsidy savings would go a long way to reverse Fela’s prophesy! I estimate that we spend N50b annually on Transport Fare, deregulation will double that and make it N100b. The additional N50b should be paid by the Government.
And equally important, I propose an additional $500 annual intervention Fund at 5% interest over 5 years provided by the Banks and Guaranteed by the Federal Government to be used to buy fuel efficient Cars and Buses. These vehicles must be among the top 5 most fuel efficient Cars and Buses in the world and most importantly, they must be duty free.
I don’t have to be psychic or a soothsayer to know that the money that will accrue toGovernment from deregulation is more than enough to pay for the purchase of such Vehicles, with an estimate of N3m for Cars, N11m for mini Buses and N16m for bigger Buses. Old Cars and Buses should bebrought to designated centres, where they can be purchased for at least N300,000 each and crushed, so they are taken out of circulation and will reduce the carnage on our roads.
The money will be used as a down payment, towards the purchase of New cars and Buses............BEN MURRAY BRUCE PLAN, want to read more go search for the document on google titled :- "subsidizing the poor"
At that Debate, I came up with a transportation solution to the subsidy issue which allows government to remove the subsidy and at the same time subsidise the transport sector with a fraction of the savings from the subsidy removal, with a net effect of no transport fare increase in the post subsidy era.
My proposal, which is now christeneted ‘THE BEN BRUCE PLAN: SUBSIDISING THE POOR’is now more urgent in order to reduce the hardship which Nigerians have startedto experience since the January 1, 2012 subsidy removal!
A good plan is only as important as the willingness to execute it. Since Independence in 1960, successive Administrations have paid little attention to the Poor. Government has played the role of Robin Hood, unfortunately though in reverse, they have taken from the Poor to subsidise and sustain the Rich.
I urge The Federal Government to reverse that role and play the real Robin Hood, and now take from theRich and give to the Poor. This simply means that they must ensure that the Rich make the same sacrifice that the Poor have made and continue to make.
After all, it is not a sin to be poor. The Government of Nigeria must practice what itpreaches, if it does and implements the Ben Bruce Transport Policy, it will go a long way in easing the untold hardship the increase in the cost of Petrol will have on The Nigerian masses.
THE BEN BRUCE.
TRANSPORT POLICY is simple, realistic and very achievable. It is to provide affordable, sustainable, comfortable, reliable and modern mass transit system for Nigerians without fare increase and refleeting the national rollingstock (buses and taxis) and the provision of transport infrastructures (bus depot, bus terminals, bus shelters and laybys).
The Government needs to setup the National Transport Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and State transport Regulatory Authority (STAs) to implement this programme.
Murray-Bruce: Bayelsansare in for a great time
One of the focal points of my plan, is that all School Children in Uniform, senior Citizens over 60 and Children under 10 must travel free of charge by Public Transportation under this plan.
My plan guarantees stabilization of transport fares, massive employment generation, create new national identity through The‘Buses and Taxis’ that would be celebrated around the country and offer a breath offresh air rather than the gloom and doom that have pervaded the national scene in recent times. The details ofmy plan have been worked with global transport expertsand would be in the public domain soon!
To implement this plan, I propose $2b annually for 10 years. This will re-invent and re- build the Transport sectorof Nigeria and alleviate the sufferings of the Nigerian people and at the same time grow our Economy.
I demand for the Nigerian masses a $500m subsidy fund to subsidise Bus and Taxi services in Nigeria. I want that subsidy at 50% of the cost for all Nigerians. Many other developing and advanced Economies have subsidised their Transport Sectors.
For instance, Brazil by 70%, South Africa by 34%, Chile by 57%, the UK by 49%, Belgium by 69% and finland by 65%. We all know the problems that have plagued our Nation for Decades, we all know the untold hardship our people have been through, and so did the Afrobeat Legend Fela Anikulapo- Kuti as emphasised in many of his songs and a fraction of the subsidy savings would go a long way to reverse Fela’s prophesy! I estimate that we spend N50b annually on Transport Fare, deregulation will double that and make it N100b. The additional N50b should be paid by the Government.
And equally important, I propose an additional $500 annual intervention Fund at 5% interest over 5 years provided by the Banks and Guaranteed by the Federal Government to be used to buy fuel efficient Cars and Buses. These vehicles must be among the top 5 most fuel efficient Cars and Buses in the world and most importantly, they must be duty free.
I don’t have to be psychic or a soothsayer to know that the money that will accrue toGovernment from deregulation is more than enough to pay for the purchase of such Vehicles, with an estimate of N3m for Cars, N11m for mini Buses and N16m for bigger Buses. Old Cars and Buses should bebrought to designated centres, where they can be purchased for at least N300,000 each and crushed, so they are taken out of circulation and will reduce the carnage on our roads.
The money will be used as a down payment, towards the purchase of New cars and Buses............BEN MURRAY BRUCE PLAN, want to read more go search for the document on google titled :- "subsidizing the poor"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)