3^rd January, 2012

 

Press Statement

WE HOLD THE JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION LIABLE FOR MURDER

It is with a heavy heart that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announces the murder of an anti-fuel price hike protester, who was shot dead by the police today Tuesday 3^rd January, 2012.

The victim was shot dead around the Post Office in central Ilorin, Kwara State.  The perpetrators of this crime were armed policemen from the Area A Division, close to UBA Ilorin and the State Police Command along Sulu Gambari Road, Ilorin.

The NLC had cautioned the Jonathan administration against the use of brute force and arms against unarmed Nigerians who protest publicly, their rejection of its murderous policy of hiking fuel prices by between 120 and 200 per cent.

The Police is directly under the control and command of the Presidency and it is the Jonathan administration’s inhuman policy that has resulted in the murder of an innocent citizen.  The NLC holds the Jonathan administration liable for this murder and advises it to fish out its agents who shot protesters in Ilorin and bring them to justice..

The NLC praises Lagosians for their massive protests on the streets of Lagos today which ended at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.  We also commend the protesters who have been on the streets in various parts of the country from Lokoja to Kano.

The  Belgore and Kolade Committees

The Presidency on Monday 2^nd January 2012 set up a committee headed by the retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Belgore purportedly to dialogue with Labour.  We think this is an afterthought and meant to give Nigerians the impression that the Government wants to consult Nigerians.

First, the Presidency had invited Labour to a follow-up discussion on the issue of fuel subsidy removal only for it to abort the process by removing the subsidy.  Secondly, it announced to Nigerians that it was consulting them on the issue only for it to announce new PMS prices.  Thirdly, the government announced that even if the subsidy is to be removed, it will be from April 1, 2012 only for it to carry out same on January 1, 2012.

Also, the attacks on peaceful demonstrators, the arrests in Abuja and the murder of a protester by the police do not portray a government that is interested in dialogue and peaceful negotiations.

On the Christopher Kolade Committee on the so-called Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Labour is seeking legal opinion as to the constitutionality of spending public funds without appropriation by the National Assembly.

The Presidency Lied!

No one would have believed that the revered office of the President could stoop so low to tell a lie. In a bid to defend the Presidency on the misleading and callous imposition of astronomical increase in fuel prices on Nigerians, the Special Adviser on Media to President Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati told the media that Labour was in support of the subsidy removal.

His claim that Labour was consulted and had given support to whatever government does on the issue of removal of subsidy is a blatant lie.  In the first place, the leadership of the Labour Movement had held only one meeting with the Federal Government on the issue of oil subsidy.  This was on Tuesday 20^th December, 2011 and that meeting was not conclusive, as it was agreed that a follow-up meeting will be called by the Presidency.

Secondly, the outcome of that meeting was immediately made public through a press statement, and up till now, the presidency has not disputed its content.  At the meeting, the Labour Movement had noted that it was not only impossible for the Federal Government to implement a fifth of the projects outlined in the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE), but that the presentation by the Presidency on the issue of oil subsidy “was simply a repetition of the presentations made by the Babangida and Abacha regimes and the Obasanjo administration, and that none of those promises were kept”.

The report of that meeting as we have stated, is in the public domain. We reiterate what we told Government, that Labour and the people stand opposed to fuel subsidy removal and hikes in the price of fuel. No amount of blackmail, propaganda or intimidation will deter Nigerians from reclaiming their country.

Tomorrow Wednesday 4^th January, 2012, the NLC and TUC will issue a clear directive on the date coordinated nationwide general strikes, mass rallies and street protests will commence, and the methodology of the protests.

 Abdulwahed I. Omar

President