For the avoidance of doubt i believe we should ALL be out on the streets protesting at this time. And while I understand that some people cannot be out marching, they should do whatever they can to make their voices heard and support others. My reasons for saying this are simple and listed below:
1. The Government claims subsidy removal is required in order to stop the corruption playing out in the downstream sector of the Oil industry. The claim is that there is a "cabal" siphoning away our national wealth via these subsidies. During the debate a couple of weeks ago SLS said in his study of the whole subsidy structure PPPRA appears to be wanting and perhaps colluding with this "cabal". I make bold to say that if the FGN with its police and EFCC can NOT stop this cabal now, how will they stop them from accessing the funds saved from subsidy when it is deployed to other projects? Ending corruption and enforcing laws appear to be the answer on this one and not necessarily subsidy removal.
2. The FGN has released its budget for 2012 in which an inordinate amount has (as usual) been ascribed to Recurrent expenditure, rather than Capital expenditure. The budget dedicates N1bn to feeding at the Presidency, N45mn to buying the VPs newspapers and other inane expenses that will not benefit the average Nigerian in a single way. Senator David Mark (as well as the average Nigerian senator) earns higher than our good ol' Barack Obama, while arguably doing less given all the NASS recesses. I make bold to say on this that if the FGN wants me to tighten my belt it must start with its first. The FGN personnel expenditure for 2012 is N1.6TRILLION ...within this figure lies ghost workers, inflated salaries as well as people that are paid for doing nothing. Trim Government waste first..the USA and UK did it during the recession over the last two years...Singapore is doing it right now...lose the twenty car convoys, the crazy estacodes and the hundred man travelling retinues..Abeg Government must tie its own wrapper tighter before asking me to give em my shorts!
3.This is not the first time our Government (with a lot of these same individuals) have asked us to make sacrifices in order to receive pyramids and an utopia. This same argument of increasing fuel prices will lead to valhalla was given to us during the last fuel price increase. Following the hikes then there should be a dozen private refineries making my life easier now but no matter how hard i listen i don't hear of even one private refinery operating efficiently in this country. I make bold to say that even as a kid i stopped falling for fairy tales, so anyone that wants to take the subsidy away should start by putting in place the refineries, power and infrastructure that will facilitate economic growth and cushion the effects of subsidy removal AHEAD of the removal. Anything else amounts to sheer wickedness. After all once beaten...
4. Government has still been unable to tell us exactly how much we expend on producing a barrel of fuel, which means the subsidy accounting is hazy at best. Furthermore, the subsidy amount appeared to double magically in 2009 (not 100% sure of the date) and they can't explain that miracle of accounting. Furthermore, the palliatives being offered are nonsensical given the extent to which people's lives will be affected by this action.I make bold to say that the Government has not thought through this matter and as a result are guessing (at best) on how to go about effecting this policy.
5. I have complained about the state of Nigeria for many years now. I am tired of fueling my own generator, tired of the crater filled roads, tired of hearing that Boko Haram is killing people and the Government can't do anything. So i ask myself if not now then WHEN? If not me then WHO? Therefore i'm putting my feet and pen where my mouth is and asking that you do the same!
Bottom-line: the Government wants to listen to the IMF/EU cronies by stopping subsidy..reducing my (and your) disposable income and channeling the same subsidy funds to the same pockets by alternative mechanisms. A Government that does not have the moral right to stand up to this "cabal" cannot be trusted to do what is right with what is saved from subsidy.
I have simply lost faith in this Government and come Monday i will be out on the streets saying so...what say ye fellow Nigerians
( culled from 'Dele Lawore)
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