Lifestyle

Borno agency announces palliative for workers

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The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) has introduced stipends for its staff to cushion the hike in transport fares due to the total removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

The executive secretary of the agency, Saleh Abba-Kaza, announced the development in a meeting with the staff on Monday in Maiduguri.

“Following the recent fuel subsidy removal, we have come to realise that most, if not all, our staff are struggling to survive the ripple effect. It is a known fact that commercial motorists have increased transport fares by at least 300 per cent,” stated Mr Abba-Kaza.

“But in spite of the financial difficulties, you didn’t relent in availing yourselves of work regularly and timely.”

He added,

“On this note, the management of BOSCHMA has come up with a palliative for all staff by providing a monthly stipend to cushion the effect of the rise in transport fare. The lower or junior staff will receive N10,000 monthly in addition to your salary, while the middle cadre and senior staff will get a monthly increase of N15,000 and N20,000, respectively.”

Reiterating the commitment of the agency to staff welfare, Mr Abba-Kaza said that the agency had also established a creche within the organisation to support nursing mothers.

The agency now has a creche so that nursing mothers can be close to their babies at all times, especially those who can not afford private ones,” he said.

The executive secretary, who promised to prioritise training and retraining of staff, said 25 per cent of the agency’s budget since inception has been dedicated to human resources development.

Politics

SERAP gives Tinubu seven days to publish details of N400 billion savings

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An advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has given President Bola Tinubu a seven-day ultimatum to “publish details of spending amounting to about N400 billion” from the fuel subsidy removal.

In a letter to the president on Sunday, SERAP expressed concerns that the savings from the subsidy removal might be embezzled, misappropriated or diverted into private pockets.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. the group said in the letter signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

SERAP said unless the government was transparent and accountable to Nigerians on how it spends the savings from the subsidy, the removal would continue to undermine Nigeria’s’ rights and increase their vulnerability to poverty and social deprivation.

“Transparency and accountability in the spending details of the N400 billion saved as a result of the removal of subsidy on petrol, and on the spending of subsequent savings from the removal would mean that the savings can help poor Nigerians to overcome the effects of such removal.”

SERAP added that Mr Tinubu’s government had a legal responsibility to ensure that the savings from the subsidy are spent solely to benefit the 137 million poor Nigerians bearing the brunt of the removal.

It urged the president to promptly instruct the anti-graft agencies; Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor the spending.

Shortly after taking the oath of office on May 29, Mr Tinubu announced that there would no longer be a petroleum subsidy regime.

Revealing that the 2023 budget he saw has no provision for subsidy, the president stated that funds meant for the subsidies would now be diverted to public infrastructure, education, health care and job opportunities.

In February 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) disclosed that the amount spent as fuel subsidy had crossed N400 billion monthly.Mele Kyari, the NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this at an event where the company was changed from a corporation.

“Our customers are here; we are transferring to each of them at N113 per litre. That means there is a difference of close to N202 for every litre of PMS we import into this country. In computation, N202 multiplied by 66.5 million litres, multiplied by 30, will give you over N400 billion of subsidy every month,” he stated.

Lifestyle

Kwara government provides free bus rides for students, staff

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The Kwara Ministry of Tertiary Education has met with stakeholders to work out modalities on transport palliatives by the government to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on staff and students.

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Habibat Saidu, disclosed this after an interactive meeting with the stakeholders in Ilorin to map out the strategies to be adopted on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s directives.

The meeting had in attendance AbdulRazaq Jiddah, the deans of student affairs of all public tertiary institutions in Kwara, representatives of students’ unions across the tertiary institutions, and representatives of the state chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The permanent secretary urged stakeholders in various sectors to complement government efforts.

According to her, the interactive meeting is meant to embrace suggestions on allocating the buses to strategic routes within the metropolis to achieve the desired target.

Ms Saidu reiterated that the transportation palliative for staff and students of tertiary institutions is free of charge, warning against extortion.

The Kwara official stressed that staff and students would benefit from the free bus ride only if they presented their institutions’ identification cards.

Mr Jidda urged the students to reciprocate the Kwara government’s gesture by conducting themselves in an orderly manner to sustain the free transportation palliative.

He disclosed further that more palliative measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal are underway by the state government.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the NANS chairman Kwara chapter, Yusuf AbdulGafar, suggested that the buses could be stationed at institutions in rural areas to convey students within such rural communities.

The Kwara government had on June 12 approved the deployment of government buses to support the movement of students and workers in public tertiary institutions within Ilorin and its environs to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Lifestyle, Politics

Don’t go on strike – Sanwo-Olu begs NLC

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has begged members of the Nigerian Labour Congress not to embark on a strike over removal of fuel subsidy as announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech.

Recall that the NLC on Friday, June 2, issued a five-day ultimatum to the federal government to revert to the old price of petrol or face a nationwide protest.

Sanwo-Olu who addressed reporters on Sunday, June 4, after a post-inauguration church thanksgiving service, appealed to the labour leaders to join hands with the present administration in its commitment to turn the economy of the country around.

He said;

“We are thankful that Mr President is a product of Lagos. We will pray for him and everything that he stands for. We believe he will replicate all the good things he has done in Lagos in our country, Nigeria.

“I want to wish and plead with our citizens even as NLC has said to us that they want to go on strike. It is not the time for a strike. During the campaign trail, everyone of our presidential candidates did say that the first thing they are going to do is to remove the subsidy.

“So, what has changed? What has the current president said or what has he done that is different from what any of the other aspirants said they would do?

“We need to be very patient. He (President Tinubu) has not even done a week. So let us talk to ourselves and say that we shouldn’t turn it political. Let us wait and support this man. He has not done a week on the job. Let him go and reflect and at the sub-national level, we are willing to support him.

“The point is no industrial strike will solve anything at this point, it will certainly not bring an end to the issue. The point will be how are we going to ensure that there is a turnaround in our economy.

“He has mentioned something about a better wage. We have started that in Lagos. We started it in January; so other parts of the country can also do the same. We don’t need to wait for the national government. We just need to reflect on what the challenges are in our country and let us solve the problem.

“I want to plead with the Nigeria Labour Congress. It shouldn’t turn into a political thing because we have begun to see that. The leadership should know that they are leading a pack of people and they need to restrain themselves. Let us be patient. Let us work around it. NNPC has said that there is more than enough petrol.”

Lifestyle

NNPC’s decision to increase pump price of petrol is illegal – Femi Falana

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Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has said that the decision of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to increase the pump price of PMS is illegal.

Speaking on the sideline of an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Executive Council in Abuja, Falana said NNPCL as a limited liability company does not have any legal power to jack up the price of petroleum.

He further urged the federal government to go back to the drawing board with a view to finding alternative solution to the problem, one of which he says includes the need to address the dollarization of Nigeria’s economy.

Business, Lifestyle

NLC calls for probe into fuel subsidy as it holds emergency executive meeting following fuel price hike

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a probe into the fuel subsidy program in Nigeria.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, made the call to journalists on Friday, June 2 shortly before the commencement of an emergency meeting of NLC National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja.

Ajaero criticised the ‘unilateral decision’ reached by President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy without consulting the Nigerian people.

He reiterated that the decision is not in the favour of the people while calling for a probe into the subsidy regime alleging huge corruption in the program.

After President Tinubu had announced the end of subsidy upon his assumption of office in May 29, in less than 24 hours petroleum marketers shut down their filling stations and adjusted their pump price.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited, also announced a new template of pricing that saw the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, jumped up to N557.

Ajaero on Friday, said the NEC meeting was called to interrogate the ‘illegal announcement’ of over N500 pump price by the NNPCL and that the NEC will give directive on the next action after the meeting.

He said that the organized labour has asked the government to withdraw the figure, contending that about 50 per cent of the states have not been paying the N30,000 minimum wage.

“At the meeting with the Federal Government, they were not only provocative, we saw the contempt they hold Nigerians, they said they will give N5,000 to 50 million poor Nigerians.”

Lifestyle

Fuel sells for N1,200 per litre amid panic buying in Ebonyi

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Residents of Ebonyi on Tuesday decried the high cost of petrol in the country.

In separate interviews, the residents in Abakaliki spoke about the fuel subsidy removal as the pump price rose to N1,200.

Darlington Okeke, a resident, said panic buying was occasioned by the announcement by President Bola Tinubu, during his inaugural speech, of an end to the subsidy regime.

Mr Okeke stated that a pump fuel price in filling stations was sold between N800 and N1,200, against N230.

Another resident, Ibrahim Ali, said that black marketers sold a litre of fuel for N1,500.

Mr Ali said the development was causing panic buying and frustration among residents.

He appealed to President Tinubu to address the situation to mitigate panic buying and arbitrary hoarding of the products, which marketers introduced after the announcement from the president.

Meanwhile, staff of some filling stations visited alleged that management of the Petroleum Dealers Association, Ebonyi chapter, had ordered the closure of fuel stations. “We are waiting for further directives,” they said.

Efforts to speak with the state chairman of the association, Sailas Njaka, over the development were unsuccessful.

Business, Lifestyle

Subsidy Removal: Fuel now N635 per litre in Anambra

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Barely 24 hours after the announcement of the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu, the price of petrol increased by 200 per cent in Awka, Anambra’s capital.

Mr Tinubu, the newly sworn-in president, while delivering his inaugural speech, said the fuel subsidy was no longer sustainable.

The correspondent who monitored the situation observed that most filling stations in the state capital were closed while the few open ones sell between N620 and N635 per litre.

Long queues have also returned in most filling stations owned by independent marketers while the major marketers were closed.Damian Okeke-Ogene, the national vice president, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, expressed dismay at the development, noting that it would worsen the masses’ plights.

Mr Okeke-Ogene said the benefit of the subsidy removal remained tiny to the public’s understanding, noting that its possibility and benefit to the masses was not still unclear.

“We heard there are lots of fraud being perpetrated in the oil subsidy, but the effort of its removal by the past administration under President Goodluck Jonathan was opposed by the opposition party of All Progressives Congress (APC) then.

“President Buhari’s government did not remove the subsidy; I wonder about the rush by Tinubu. The new president should have necessary plans in place to cushion any hardship as a result of this action,” he said.

Mr Okeke-Ogene said after the pronouncement, filling stations stopped dispensing the product, and now the price had tripled.

Mr Fabian Chima, a trader, described the pronouncement as the worst mistake by the new president.

He said Mr Tinubu should have learnt from the experience of the naira redesign, which made life unbearable for many Nigerians.”

How will the masses survive with the increase in the pump price of fuel occasioned by the subsidy removal?” he queried.

Ugochukwu Okeke, a private fuel station operator, said they hoped the new government would provide a friendly business environment for them to ensure that petroleum products would come to them at a reasonable cost to avoid hiking the price.

Mr Okeke said the dealers would always wish to contribute their part in providing a happy state for the people, knowing that the product was a social service but not to strangle their own business.

Politics

Nigeria loses $2bn annually to fuel subsidy scam – Saraki

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The former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Wednesday Nigeria loses $2 billion annually to a fuel subsidy scam.

Saraki, who stated this when he met members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees on his 2023 presidential bid, added that the country loses $3.5billion annually to oil theft.

He also revealed that 70 million litres of fuel are stolen in the country daily.

Saraki claimed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not contribute anything to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in the last few months.

He promised to end oil theft in the country if elected as President in 2023.

President Muhammadu Buhari had recently requested the National Assembly approval for the increase in fuel subsidy this year to N4trillion.

Saraki said: “The economy is weak. No. The country is broke. I am not exaggerating.

“As of today, NNPC does not contribute anything to the Federation Account. At least 70 percent of our oil is being stolen. It has never been like this before. I am saying this because I know you know it is bad but it is worse than you can imagine. Because there are some of us that have an idea of how bad the situation is.

I cannot be a President and I will be having the kind of theft that is going on in the Niger Delta, depriving hundreds of millions for Nigeria. Today we are losing $3.5b because of the oil theft happening.

“When I was a Senator, I raised a motion, the motion cost me because after I raised the motion, I was invited to EFCC but I still fought for what I stood for, that what we’re spending on fuel subsidy is fake.

“I raised a motion that we are consuming 30 million litres a day. After I raised it, it came down to 25 million litres. By my action we saved $500 million for this country. Today, they are stealing 70 million litres per day. The day with your grace, I’m elected President, that will stop in this country. We will save over N2 trillion.

“Do you know what N2 trillion will do for our schools, our education and our health? This is a time for us to find somebody that has what it takes to lead this country.”

Lifestyle

NEC to decide on fuel subsidy removal in June

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The National Economic Council (NEC) has said it will only take a decision on the removal of subsidy on petroleum products in June when provisions made for its payment in the 2022 budget expires.

NEC, at its first meeting of the year held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said though conversations on subsidy removal had been ongoing, the council was yet to take a position on it.

NEC, which comprises of the VP and the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, Minister of Finance and Budget Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and some select federal ministers, said it would use the intervening period to consult widely so as to come up with a position that would be acceptable to all Nigerians.

Ahmed had announced last year that the Federal Government would remove subsidy in the second quarter of this year, with the announcement causing a lot of furore in the country as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), vowing to mobilize Nigerian workers to embark on a massive strike to protest the proposed subsidy removal.

While fielding questions from State House Correspondents after the NEC meeting, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, said the provision for payment of subsidy was made in the 2022 budget only until June and NEC would only take a stand when the budget provision ends.

Politics

Buhari didn’t order removal of fuel subsidy – Lawan

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The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said on Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari has not ordered the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its state councils to mobilize members for a one-day nationwide protest on January 27 over the planned removal of fuel subsidy and imposition of 10 percent excise duty on soft drinks by the Federal Government.

This followed the declaration by the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, in October last year that the Federal Government made provision for petrol subsidy only for the first six months of 2022.

Lawan, who addressed State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the National Assembly was concerned about the agitations and protests across the country.

He said: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I have come to discuss with Mr. President among several other things.

“Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations, protests, and many citizens were so concerned, our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy. And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us.

And we have just finished our recess, we had gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts. And will feel the pulse of our people. And I found it necessary to visit Mr. President, as the leader of our government and our leader in the country, to discuss this particular issue of concern to Nigerians, and I’m happy to inform Nigerians that Mr. President never told anyone that the petroleum subsidy should be removed.”

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