Labour issues ultimatum on subsidy removal

As the nationwide protest over removal of fuel subsidy entered its third day yesterday, organised labour gave President Goodluck Jonathan till Saturday midnight to revert the pump price of petrol to N65 per litre or be ready to incur the wrath of Nigerians.

Mr. Jaiye Gaskia of United Action for Democracy, UAD, who issued the ultimatum, warned that if by Saturday, President Jonathan fails to revert to old price, labour will be forced to adopt strategic steps to achieve its aim.

He said: “If by 12 midnight Saturday, the Federal Government fails to revert to N65 per litre of fuel, something different will happen in this country.”

Various speakers at the procession in Abuja insisted that reverting to N65 per litre remained the starting point of any negotiation.

Gaskia, while commending Nigerians for the scope of the protest across the major cities in the country, said: “We have seen something greater happening in Nigeria than what happened in the Arab countries. It happened in Egypt, Syria, Libya and Tunisia.

“Government must revert to N65. Nigerians should not be tired. We should take our own destiny in our hands. They said we will be tired but we were growing from strength to strength by the day. The people stealing our money, their children are not here. They are in the most expensive schools abroad.”

Dino Melaye

In his address, former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, prayed against those at the helm of affairs who were making life unbearable for the common man.

Recalling the failures of government programmes and policies which include the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs; privatisation and commercialisation, Melaye argued that nothing will be achieved from the proceeds of the fuel subsidy.

He said: “They deregulated diesel over three years ago, and it is being sold for N165 per litre instead of N80. What have they done about it?”

Protest route

To forestall breakdown of law and order, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, guided the protesters away from Eagle Square onto Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway.

They marched out of Berger Junction at about 10:10am and headed North, along Obafemi Awolowo Way; got to Utako Park and headed back through Julius Berger headquarters into the Azikiwe Expressway.

Labour leaders ignored pressure from some protesters to march on Eagle Square, which was cordoned-off by fierce looking soldiers and police-men as where military officers were rehearsing for the Armed Forces Remem-brance Day celebrations.

From Azikiwe Express-way, the protesters moved through the National Stadium to Area 1, Garki, where several labour leaders addressed them.

… as Interior Minister orders massive deployment of security age

ABUJA—Seventy two hours after the commencement of protest across the country over the removal of fuel subsidy, Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro, yesterday, ordered service chiefs and para-military agencies to deploy their men nationwide in order to contain any emergency that could arise in the course of the protest.

Addressing chief executives of the Nigerian Immigration Service, fire service, civil defense corps and prison service, Moro said the protection of lives and properties was of paramount importance to government.

According to him, paramilitary agencies should spare no effort in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

A statement from the Ministry by the Assistant Director, Press, Mr. Ben Goong, in Abuja, said: “The Minister directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service to fully deploy his men and equipment, especially at the country’s airports, seaports and border posts, to diligently patrol the borders to forestall foreigners taking undue advantage of the situation to create insecurity in the country.

“He emphasised that greater attention should be paid to the country’s land borders, especially in areas where state of emergency has been declared.

“Similarly, the Minister directed the Comptroller-General of the fire service to place his men and materials at full alert to handle any emergencies that may occur in any part of the country, particularly in and around public buildings.

“In the same vein, Mr. Abba Moro tasked the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Prison Service, to beef up security around all prisons across the country, as well as intensify internal surveillance to forestall any ugly incidence within the prisons.”

Moro also directed the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps to mobilise and fully deploy the personnel of the civil defense in all strategic areas to protect public properties as well as constantly conduct necessary surveillance.

to prevent possible sabotage in and around public buildings

Moro, according to the statement, appealed to Nigerians for patience, calm and understanding, adding that the Federal Government was open to dialogue in its efforts to resolve the current impasse.

“The Minister called on organised labor to exercise restraint in the conduct of the protests, adding that all conduct in the exercise of fundamental human rights in this regard must be carried out within the ambit of the law,” the statement added.