The Nigeria Labour Congress again on Friday berated the Federal
Government over the fuel scarcity in the country, saying
government’s energy policy was defective.
Also on Friday, the NLC and civil society organisations were
divided over Dangote Refinery, which will begin operations at the
end of 2018.
The NLC, which spoke through its Secretary-General, Dr. Peter
Ozo-Eson, warned the Federal Government against allowing the
Dangote Group to monopolise the oil refinery sector.
According to Ozo-Eson, the Dangote Group currently monopolises
the cement sector. He said that such must not be allowed to happen
in the oil refinery sector.
The NLC secretary-general blamed the Federal Government for the
current fuel scarcity in the country.
He said the Federal Government failed to pursue a comprehensive
policy that could improve local crude oil refining capacity.
It stated that the government was pursuing a wrong policy in the
energy sector.
The congress, which said it had warned the Federal Government
earlier about its policy, stated that the government failed to
listen because it was only interested in increasing the fuel pump
price without putting in place the necessary measures that would
keep the price stable.
Ozo-Eson stated that the Federal Government did not think its
energy policy through, noting that the country would continue to
have energy crisis anytime there was a rise in the international
prices of crude oil and fluctuations in the exchange rate.
He said, “The government did not think its policies through. We
pointed out this danger. If you say you have removed subsidy and
you now allow the market to determine the price, when the
underlying parameters change, whether it is the international
prices of crude oil or the exchange rate of the naira, when you run
all these through the template, you are going to face a situation
like this.
“What they did was only half-policy, they did not a have a
comprehensive policy. If you have a comprehensive policy and you
want to maintain a price at a level and you don’t want to pay
subsidy, what you should have is price modulation scheme that would
build up the funds initially or create funds which would provide a
support window to allow you to mediate in the parameters.”
The NLC secretary said the government of President Muhammadu
Buhari had broken the trust Nigerians had in it, citing the current
fuel scarcity which ruined the Christmas holidays for the
citizens.
He warned the government against allowing the country to depend
on Dangote refinery, which would become functional in 2018,
stressing that the firm would exploit Nigerians.
Ozo-Eson explained that every member of the Organisation of
Petroleum Exporting Countries had refineries.
He noted that the government would be failing in its
responsibility if it allowed multi-billionaire businessman, Aliko
Dangote, to have monopoly in the downstream sector.
He said, “A monopoly in the oil refinery sector will kill
Nigerians; a recent survey showed that prices of cement in Nigeria
are the most expensive anywhere in the world.”
He also said the NLC did not see any sense in increasing fuel
price after what Nigerians had gone through.
He stated, “As to what we would do, we have our members to guide
us. So it is not for me to say at this point in time, but
definitely we believe it is unacceptable for any price increase to
be contemplated. We are a democratic organisation and we would
summon our members and take a position.”
SERAP, CACOL oppose NLC, say more Nigerians can acquire
licences
Two civil societies – the Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project and the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open
Leadership – however criticised the NLC for its warning about
impending monopoly in the oil refinery sector.
They said that more Nigerians, who have the wherewithal, could
approach the government and acquire the licence.
The SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “I don’t think the
NLC is serious. About 18 licences were issued to people to
construct refineries more than two years ago and those who were
given the licences failed to commence any work. So, it is not a
question of Dangote monopolising the sector, it is a question of
who has the wherewithal and commitment to commence work?
“Let the NLC suggest other people that have shown their
wherewithal to also construct refineries. The Goodluck Jonathan-led
administration issued licences to 18 companies but no one has yet
to build. Let the NLC do its work properly and stop giving
Nigerians the wrong information. This is the way I see it.”
Also, the CACOL Director, Debo Adeniran, said, “The way the NLC
is going about this issue is reactionary. Being labour bureaucrats,
they were there when the licences to build refineries were being
auctioned and how much agitation did they put forward? Did the
labour confront the Federal Government? Will the NLC be fair to now
stop those investors, who have paid so much money to purchase the
licences, from operating? It is unfortunate that it is this time
that the labour is asking the government to stop the
operation.”
Private refineries will end fuel scarcity –
Industrialist
On his part, an industrialist and President, Azikel Group of
Companies, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, said recurring fuel scarcity and
acute unemployment would be reduced to the barest minimum when
privately-owned refineries commenced operations.
Eruani made this known in an interaction with journalists in
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Thursday.
The industrialist, who decried the yearly scarcity of petroleum
products across the country, particularly during festivities, said
the phenomenon had become embarrassing as it had crippled virtually
all economic activities in the country.
Eruani noted that the scarcity of the products persisted because
of the low production capacity of existing refineries and the
country’s penchant for totally depending on fuel imports for local
consumption.
He, however, lauded the Buhari-led Federal Government for taking
pragmatic steps to address low supply, importation of fuel and
price hike by issuing licences to private refineries.
He noted that Azikel Petroleum had achieved 65 per cent
completion, stressing that it would soon begin operation.
He expressed confidence that when all licensed privately-owned
refineries began to dispense fuel, the development would shore up
production capacity and fuel scarcity and inadequate supplies would
be a thing of the past.
Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy
Centre, Auwual Musa (Rafsanjani), said the Federal Government
should ensure proper regulation of the petroleum sector.
Musa, who made the call in a telephone interview with Saturday
PUNCH, in Abuja, on Saturday, explained that with proper
regulation, Nigerians would enjoy better services at competitive
rates as it is currently done in the telecommunications
sub-sector.
He said, “The government has a duty to ensure strict adherence
to policies that will be beneficial to the majority of the
suffering masses of this country. It is because government has
failed to perform its statutory duties that we are even having this
issue.”
“I believe that if government does the needful in terms of
policies and adherence to the rule of law, the issue of a monopoly
will not even arise.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress again on Friday berated the Federal
Government over the fuel scarcity in the country, saying
government’s energy policy was defective.
Also on Friday, the NLC and civil society organisations were
divided over Dangote Refinery, which will begin operations at the
end of 2018.
The NLC, which spoke through its Secretary-General, Dr. Peter
Ozo-Eson, warned the Federal Government against allowing the
Dangote Group to monopolise the oil refinery sector.
According to Ozo-Eson, the Dangote Group currently monopolises
the cement sector. He said that such must not be allowed to happen
in the oil refinery sector.
The NLC secretary-general blamed the Federal Government for the
current fuel scarcity in the country.
He said the Federal Government failed to pursue a comprehensive
policy that could improve local crude oil refining capacity.
It stated that the government was pursuing a wrong policy in the
energy sector.
The congress, which said it had warned the Federal Government
earlier about its policy, stated that the government failed to
listen because it was only interested in increasing the fuel pump
price without putting in place the necessary measures that would
keep the price stable.
Ozo-Eson stated that the Federal Government did not think its
energy policy through, noting that the country would continue to
have energy crisis anytime there was a rise in the international
prices of crude oil and fluctuations in the exchange rate.
He said, “The government did not think its policies through. We
pointed out this danger. If you say you have removed subsidy and
you now allow the market to determine the price, when the
underlying parameters change, whether it is the international
prices of crude oil or the exchange rate of the naira, when you run
all these through the template, you are going to face a situation
like this.
“What they did was only half-policy, they did not a have a
comprehensive policy. If you have a comprehensive policy and you
want to maintain a price at a level and you don’t want to pay
subsidy, what you should have is price modulation scheme that would
build up the funds initially or create funds which would provide a
support window to allow you to mediate in the parameters.”
The NLC secretary said the government of President Muhammadu
Buhari had broken the trust Nigerians had in it, citing the current
fuel scarcity which ruined the Christmas holidays for the
citizens.
He warned the government against allowing the country to depend
on Dangote refinery, which would become functional in 2018,
stressing that the firm would exploit Nigerians.
Ozo-Eson explained that every member of the Organisation of
Petroleum Exporting Countries had refineries.
He noted that the government would be failing in its
responsibility if it allowed multi-billionaire businessman, Aliko
Dangote, to have monopoly in the downstream sector.
He said, “A monopoly in the oil refinery sector will kill
Nigerians; a recent survey showed that prices of cement in Nigeria
are the most expensive anywhere in the world.”
He also said the NLC did not see any sense in increasing fuel
price after what Nigerians had gone through.
He stated, “As to what we would do, we have our members to guide
us. So it is not for me to say at this point in time, but
definitely we believe it is unacceptable for any price increase to
be contemplated. We are a democratic organisation and we would
summon our members and take a position.”
SERAP, CACOL oppose NLC, say more Nigerians can acquire
licences
Two civil societies – the Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project and the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open
Leadership – however criticised the NLC for its warning about
impending monopoly in the oil refinery sector.
They said that more Nigerians, who have the wherewithal, could
approach the government and acquire the licence.
The SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “I don’t think the
NLC is serious. About 18 licences were issued to people to
construct refineries more than two years ago and those who were
given the licences failed to commence any work. So, it is not a
question of Dangote monopolising the sector, it is a question of
who has the wherewithal and commitment to commence work?
“Let the NLC suggest other people that have shown their
wherewithal to also construct refineries. The Goodluck Jonathan-led
administration issued licences to 18 companies but no one has yet
to build. Let the NLC do its work properly and stop giving
Nigerians the wrong information. This is the way I see it.”
Also, the CACOL Director, Debo Adeniran, said, “The way the NLC
is going about this issue is reactionary. Being labour bureaucrats,
they were there when the licences to build refineries were being
auctioned and how much agitation did they put forward? Did the
labour confront the Federal Government? Will the NLC be fair to now
stop those investors, who have paid so much money to purchase the
licences, from operating? It is unfortunate that it is this time
that the labour is asking the government to stop the
operation.”
Private refineries will end fuel scarcity –
Industrialist
On his part, an industrialist and President, Azikel Group of
Companies, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, said recurring fuel scarcity and
acute unemployment would be reduced to the barest minimum when
privately-owned refineries commenced operations.
Eruani made this known in an interaction with journalists in
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Thursday.
The industrialist, who decried the yearly scarcity of petroleum
products across the country, particularly during festivities, said
the phenomenon had become embarrassing as it had crippled virtually
all economic activities in the country.
Eruani noted that the scarcity of the products persisted because
of the low production capacity of existing refineries and the
country’s penchant for totally depending on fuel imports for local
consumption.
He, however, lauded the Buhari-led Federal Government for taking
pragmatic steps to address low supply, importation of fuel and
price hike by issuing licences to private refineries.
He noted that Azikel Petroleum had achieved 65 per cent
completion, stressing that it would soon begin operation.
He expressed confidence that when all licensed privately-owned
refineries began to dispense fuel, the development would shore up
production capacity and fuel scarcity and inadequate supplies would
be a thing of the past.
Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy
Centre, Auwual Musa (Rafsanjani), said the Federal Government
should ensure proper regulation of the petroleum sector.
Musa, who made the call in a telephone interview with Saturday
PUNCH, in Abuja, on Saturday, explained that with proper
regulation, Nigerians would enjoy better services at competitive
rates as it is currently done in the telecommunications
sub-sector.
He said, “The government has a duty to ensure strict adherence
to policies that will be beneficial to the majority of the
suffering masses of this country. It is because government has
failed to perform its statutory duties that we are even having this
issue.”
“I believe that if government does the needful in terms of
policies and adherence to the rule of law, the issue of a monopoly
will not even arise.”
Read more https://nairalaw.com/fuel-scarcity-nlc-serap-csos-clash-over-dangote-refinery/