Must Read: NLC charges FG over fuel cabal

 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the federal government of allowing certain people it described as a cruel cabal, hold the nation to ransom by their attempt to arm twist the government into parting with billions of dollars in the name of fuel subsidy.
 The congress noted that the demands for the billions “which it has not earned” has brought activities in the country to halt.
In a statement issued ymonday and signed by its National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC called on President Goodluck Jonathan to take firm and decisive actions by calling to order all those that have brought the crises on Nigeria, particularly following constant reminders that he is still in charge of running the country.
The implicit message in such a definitive action will show that no one – business men and women and their collaborators, in and out of government – is strong enough to hold the entire people of Nigeria and its government to ransom,” the statement read.
 The congress also called on President Jonathan to quickly investigate those behind the current crises and hand them over to the incoming administration for further investigation and prosecution.
“Secondly, the outgoing administration should blacklist all those private sector companies involved in the massive blackmail of Nigerians and ensure that their licenses are revoked as a punitive measure to serve as deterrent to operators that it doesn’t pay to blackmail and hold a nation to ransom,” it added.
The NLC noted that the ongoing scarcity has again raised pertinent questions:” what happened to our old habit of maintaining “a strategic national reserve”? Two, is the action of the players in the petroleum sector a subtle plot to force the hands of the incoming administration to forcibly deregulate the petroleum sector, and compound the hardship of Nigerians through the increase in the prices of petroleum products?”
“As organised labour, we maintain our position that government has absolutely no excuse not to ensure that our four refineries with combined capacity to refine 450,000 barrels per day to function and operate to full capacity,” it added.
It however called on Nigerians to persevere in the face of the ongoing scarcity, and avoid any action that can affect a smooth transition on Democracy day.
It expressed hope that the incoming administration, with the experience of the President-elect in the petroleum industry, will help usher in an era of patriotic and nationalist orientation, and will tighten all the areas of leakages and fraudulent practices which had deprived the country of billions of dollars in earnings into the federation account.
“Should our optimism of a new era for our country in the oil sector become unrealisable, we shall follow in the footsteps of our forebears, and defend the interest of Nigerian workers and the Nigerian masses as a whole,” the congress warned.
Thisday