Labour Leaders List Conditions for Subsidy Removal, Say Energy Crisis Due to Incompetence, Corruption
PMB
By Our Reporters
Labour leaders have identified incompetence and corruption as responsible for energy crisis in Nigeria.
This was as the leaders gave conditions which the federal government must meet before removing subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit.
The labour leaders spoke during the Annual General Meeting and inauguration of the newly elected members of the National Executive Committee of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the officials of the Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Labour Congress, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the problem of energy crisis remains self inflicted.
The National President, Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye who spoke on the occasion said the energy issue was mainly due to corruption and incompetence.
Noting that fuel subsidy removal and increase in fuel price have been recurring, he said Nigeria was the only OPEC member country that imports more than 90 to 95 per cent of refined petroleum products for consumption.
According to him, “Nigeria has a total of five refineries across the country of which four are owned and managed by the government, and one by NDPR (Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited).
“It might interest you to know that none of the government-owned refineries is functioning, yet in the past 10 years alone, the government has wasted about $9.5bn for turnaround maintenance of the moribund refineries.”
He said while the TUC was not against subsidy removal, it was however inquisitive on what government offers as a result of the planned removal.
Olaleye said it was difficult to trust government since it had in the past government had claimed it had been removed.
He queried on what government intends to do to check dependence on fuel imports.
The TUC President also wanted to know whether there will be construction and utilization of modular refineries which government had promised.
He said government should ensure that if government is to remove subsidy, it must embark on projects that would benefit the economy not on those that will lead to losses.
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