By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, says rather than urging the Nigerian government to execute policies snuffing life out of Nigerians, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should set a benchmark for minimum wage and other government social responsibilities in Nigeria as it is obtainable in first worlds.
This call followed the constant nudging on of the Nigerian government by the world organisations to completely remove fuel subsidy and jack up fuel pump price to N750 per litre.
Onuesoke, who’s a former governorship aspirant, therefore, urged the Federal Government to shun the demand by the World Bank to jack up pump price of premium motor spirit (petrol) to N750/litre.
The ideologue made the appeal while addressing a press conference in his office in Warri, Delta State on Saturday.
He said it was unfortunate that the World Bank and IMF now assumed the position of determining Nigerians fate and how to run the country’s economy.
He alleged that the international institutions have continued to systemically destroy the Nigerian economy with their impracticable theoretical ideology of a balanced and liberal market which has never recorded any success.
“The World Bank and the IMF have never meant well for any African Countries. It’s this same World Bank, during the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, that kept on hammering that fuel subsidy must be removed when they know there is no concrete substitute (e.g refinery not working) to cushion its effects on the masses.
“IMF on the other hand does nothing but give stupid and nonsensical advice to policy makers in African Countries on monetary tightening like increasing taxes and devaluation of their currencies -when they already know the effects on the already beaten and battered citizenry,” he recalled.
He stated that the fuel increase President Tinubu did on assumption of office is presently hunting Nigeria with high inflation rate coupled with hunger biting harder on the masses who were already impoverished with unfriendly government economic policies.
Onuesoke stressed that any attempt to increase the fuel price as being drummed by the World Bank would totally worsen the living standards of an average Nigerian.
The PDP chieftain, who alleged that the World Bank and IMF were set up by the slave masters to impoverish African countries and keep them perpetually in penury, cautioned them to steer clear of Nigerian economic policies and allow the country to implement its own policies that will be of benefit to its citizens.
He insisted that if World Bank is serious in creating a good living condition for Nigerians, it should not only be interested in fixing bench marks on fuel prices in Nigeria alone, but should equally determine benchmark on minimum wage and other government social responsibilities.
What's your reaction?
