By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned nationwide protest billed to start on January 27, 2022, should be focused on the non-functional refineries rather than the removal of oil subsidy.
This is the advice of A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Delta State governorhip aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke while addressing media correspondents on Friday in his office in Warri.
He simply described the NLC’s planned strike over the Federal Government’s plan to remove fuel subsidy as a misplaced of priority.
He said that if truly members of the NLC meant well for Nigerians, they should have mobilised workers and Nigerians to protest and declare full strike for the renovation of the non-functional refineries instead of removal of fuel subsidy from petroleum products.
The PDP chieftain pointed out that if the Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries were in good working condition, the issue of fuel subsidy would be minimized or totally eradicated.
“In essence, I expect NLC to protest over the non-functional of the nation’s refineries and the 21 NNPC storage tank farms across the country.
“If NLC can push for the repairs of the refineries and it is done, the issue of fuel subsidy will be over. I wonder why they are all turning their eyes away from the reality.
“What is the need of having over four non-functional refineries that is gulping billion of Naira annually and producing no drop of oil?
“If those refineries are not working, if new refineries have not been built by the government, if we now have to import fuel from abroad, including African countries that do not produce oil, there can be no justification for visiting the irresponsibility of the government on the Nigerian people,” he reasoned.
Onuesoke argued that the country has no reason for not rehabilitating its moribund domestic refineries, describing it as a shame for Nigeria to remain the only OPEC member that imports more than 90 per cent of its refined petroleum needs.
He maintained that the precipitous removal of fuel subsidy, without making strategic plans or giving particular attention to domestic refining, is tantamount to frustrating Nigerians.
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