Subsidy Removal and Corruption in Nigeria

On the 1^st of January 2012, we Nigerians were greeted with the increase in price of petrol. In as much as it came as a shock to Nigerians, it became obvious to concerned Nigerians that Government failed to carry her citizens along in this vital economic decision making neglecting its direct attendant negative impact on the masses, owing to the fact that there were insinuations from Government quarters that the removal of fuel subsidy will take effect from the 2^nd quarter of the year.

From the foregoing it has become pertinent that we beam our searchlight on the root causes of the problem of subsidy and the continuous suffering of the people and high level of corruption in the country.

Following warnings by the Nigerian labour congress (NLC), trade union congress (TUC) and several civil society groups in the country, one of which is the SAVE NIGERIAN GROUP with a slogan OCCUPY NIGERIA to embark on strike and protest action from Monday 9^th of January 2012, as envisaged, the strike and nationwide protest commenced and ran for five days with a high turnout of participant s over the country, before government entered negotiation with NLC and TUC on Friday 13^th January 2012.

At this point, it is no longer only the issues of subsidy removal that is a source of concern to the masses, the masses are calling on the Government to rise up and fight corruption by reducing the cost of running Government, entrench transparency in the process of managing our oil sector et al.

In my candid opinion it is necessary that the federal  government should  maintain the cost of fuel price at 65 naira  per litre, and immediately engage in a fight against corruption, recover all monies fraudulently acquired by some unpatriotic Nigerians , reduce the cost of running Government by 80 percent, put a system in place to check corruption from now going forward, this requires courage and sacrificial commitment on the side of the president , but I make bold to say that there is no better time to achieve this other than this time when Nigerians are behind the president they elected last April  with passion devoid of political affiliations, suffix  it to say that the Government is not running transparently and we the masses are no more comfortable with this as demonstrated by unprecedented mass action across the nation and contents of placards displayed by the masses.

Furthermore, I urge the NLC and TUC in their negotiation with government today to demand that in a nutshell corruption be fought to a standstill, I also subscribe into-to with the communiqué issued by Nigerians in Ghana to the federal Government via the ambassador of Nigeria in Ghana Musliu Obanikoro, read thus:

1.      THERE MUST BE IN PLACE A LAW THAT MAKES STEALING PUBLIC FUNDS AN OFFENCE PUNISHABLE BY PUBLIC EXECUTION. 

2. THE IMMUNITY CLAUSE MUST GO BOTH AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS.

3. THE PRESIDENT MUST SELL OFF ALL THE AIRCRAFTS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL FLEET (the Prime Minister of Britain, a much bigger economy does not have one and travels with British Airways).

4. THE PRESIDENT'S SALARY AND ALLOWANCES MUST NOT EXCEED $200,000 (our President has no reason whatsoever, to earn more than the American President....... for what?) 

5. THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA MUST BE SOLD OUT AND BE REPLACED WITH NO MORE THAN A 6BEDROOM HOUSE (the British Prime Minister lives in a 3-bedroom apartment). 

6. FEEDING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL AND VP LODGE SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 1MILLION NAIRA PER MONTH. (Presently it is 90 million Naira per month for both).

7. NO LEGISLATOR SHALL EARN MORE THAN A tPERMANENT SECRETARY.

8. NO GOVT OFFICIAL SHALL HAVE MORE THAN ONE OFFICIAL CAR.

9. NO GOVT OFFICIAL OR APPOINTEE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO FOREIGN MEDICAL TREATMENT (whatever is provided for the citizens should be good enough for our officials).

10. THERE SHALL BE NO OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVT LEVELS.
 

So far in the struggle, this is the most significant pronouncement ever made in clear points and the contents are worth considering if the welfare of the common man in Nigerian is a thing of concern for the Nigerian Government.

May we all Nigerians refuse to be money trees to a very few who have been milking this economy with utmost impunity, we demand that corruption must stop from the head, definitely it will be eradicated if it starts from the top, revolution is an alternative since the masses have been pushed to the wall of the streets for a week long protest and a strong assurance by the civil societies to continue the protest even if labour is compromised.

May the souls of the citizens who have lost their lives during the protest RIP!

Woe to all wicked cabals!!

Long live Federal republic of Nigeria !!!

Long live the common Nigerian man !!!