FG Insists It Won’t Revert Fuel Price To 65 Naira Per Litre

The Federal Government of Nigeria today said it would not revert the price of fuel from N141 to N65, it vowed to continue with its deregulation policy which has been met with protests across the country.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have called on the government to restore the subsidy on fuel and hence end the nation wide strikes and protests which have rocked the country for 3 days now.

Addressing State House reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, accused Labour leaders of creating more pains for Nigerians with the ongoing general strike, mass rallies and public protests over the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan deserved to be praised rather than vilified for removing fuel subsidy.

“Deregulation is not an option arrived at in comfort or happiness. It was reviewed over a year. If Nigerians don’t want us to cripple the future of our children, deregulation is important and must stay.
“If we want the President to succeed, I believe he should be praised for taking this decision rather than being crucified,” Maku said.
The minister said although negotiations were ongoing between government and Labour, there was not going back on deregulation.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Labour, Mr. Essien Ekpenyong-Ayi, said in Abuja that it was in the interest of peace for goverment to restore the subsidy.
The government’s hard stance may push the situation out of control, as labour and civil rights groups have threatened to take tougher steps to force the return of subsidy.