Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Nigerian Students Warn Buhari

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has cautioned Mohammadu Buhari against any attempt to remove fuel subsidy when he resumes office on May 29.

Giving this warning yesterday, May 4, in Abuja, the association also vowed to resist Buhari’s administration vehemently if he does try to do so.

According to Vanguard, the association in statement signed by Com. Nwanko Ezekiel, its public relations officer, described the removal of fuel subsidy as an anti-people policy.

It also called on the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan not to assent to the budget when it gets to his table, if there was no provision for fuel subsidy in it.

The statement said: NANS took the decision after wide consultations with the majority of its affiliate member unions, all its structures as well as past leaders

“We enjoin the National Assembly to have another look at their approved budget and make provisions for fuel subsidy before forwarding it to the President for his assent.

“The incoming administration has said so much about blocking leakages and we believe that the subsidy provisions are not part of the leakages to be blocked.

“The subsidy is almost the only benefit the poor Nigerian masses derive from our abundant petroleum resources.

“We hereby remind the government that in 2012, Nigerians rose in unison against the removal leading to the ‘Occupy Protest’ that almost crumbled our national economy.’’

Nwanko affirmed the resolve of Nigerian students to once again be in the fore front of the agitation against removal of fuel subsidy, explaining that any increase in price of fuel would trigger inflation and hardship on the populist.

The warning by NANS come few days after the organised labour cautioned that the non-provision for fuel subsidy in the 2015 national budget just passed by the National Assembly could plunge the country into crisis.

Labour according to Punch, gave this warning on Friday, May 1, during the May Day Celebration held at the Eagle’s Square in Abuja with the theme, ‘The working class, democratic consolidation and economic revival: Charting the way to national."

No comments: