Nation

$800M W’BANK SUPPORT: NECA URGES FG TO PRIORITISE FIXING REFINERIES ABOVE SHARING PALLIATIVES

Published

2 months ago

April 7, 2023

Insists no economic sense injecting cash in form of palliatives into economy already beset with inflationary pressure

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the federal government to prioritise fixing the country’s comatose refineries instead of the proposed sharing of $800 million World Bank support for the removal of petrol subsidy to 10 million households at N36,000 each.
This call was contained in a statement titled, “Fuel Subsidy Removal: NECA Urges a More Fundamental Action” that was issued by the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde.

The association stressed that fixing the country’s refineries was the most important palliative the government could provide to Nigerians.
Oyerinde stated that while NECA supports the removal of the fuel subsidy and also commended the support of the World Bank, it believed that government should not shy away from the fundamental issues, which included the fixing of the refineries as a pre-condition for the removal of the subsidy.
He added: “Therefore, it makes no economic sense to inject cash in the form of palliatives into an economy that is already beset with unending inflationary pressures.

“The $800 million at best is equivalent to about N360 billion. When you divide this by the targeted 10 million households, that amounts to approximately N36,000.
“What significant or tangible effect would this have on anyone, irrespective of status? We will only end up adding more woes on our shrinking economy. What we request is a more all-encompassing institutional structure to manage the gradual removal of the subsidy after fixing the refineries and not the proposed palliatives.

“It is worthy of note that previous palliatives had proved not to palliate the economic woes of the citizens. In reality, and within the context of our current economic situation, majority of Nigerians are vulnerable, especially organised businesses.”
Speaking further, the NECA boss said: “We would, again, reiterate that the government must fix all the refineries. If the government is truly interested in doing this, which appears to be the most important palliative it can provide to the citizenry, then all those who have continued to sabotage every effort at fixing and having them function at optimal capacity must be held culpable.

“That is the first bit of it. As a matter of urgency, as the subsidy regime gradually comes to an end, accountability must be prioritised. All those who had any involvement in the subsidy regime directly or indirectly should be investigated. Our anti-graft agencies should brace up to the occasion and apprehend the situation with the view of recovering stolen funds.”

Oyerinde pointed out that the questions successive governments have refused to answer are: “why can’t the refineries work? If millions of dollars had been expended on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), why are the refineries still not working? Why is it difficult to prosecute those that have collected money for the TAM and refused to fix the refineries? These questions beg for urgent answer.”

He noted that NECA, on several occasions, had called on the government to fix the refineries and be deliberate about establishing the right institutional and policy framework to keep them running. “We had hoped this would have been given attention first,” he said.

Share on Facebook

Save

Nation

Three Killed While Travelling To Attend Inauguration Of New Ebonyi Governor, Nwifuru

Published

3 hours ago

May 30, 2023

Estreet News

The victims who hailed, from Izzi Local Government Area, the home town of the new governor, Francis Nwifuru, were said to have died in a ghastly motor accident on their way to Abakaliki.

Three persons travelling to attend Monday’s swearing-in ceremony in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Southeast Nigeria, have reportedly been killed.

The victims who hailed, from Izzi Local Government Area, the home town of the new governor, Francis Nwifuru, were said to have died in a ghastly motor accident on their way to Abakaliki.

Although the details of the accident were still sketchy, reports claimed many others also sustained varying degrees of injury.

According to one report, the vehicle carrying the victims had gone to Izzi to pick up villagers. Unfortunately, while they were travelling from the local government area to Abakaliki, one of the car tyres was deflated.

Those injured in the accident have reportedly been moved to the Ebonyi Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki.

The swearing-in ceremony in the state, like it is happening across the country today (Monday), is holding at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.

Meanwhile, efforts made by SaharaReporters to speak with the State Police Public Relations Officer SP, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, were unsuccessful as she didn’t answer her calls.

Share on Facebook

Save

Nation

Enugu Governor, Mbah Names Chidiebere Onyia SSG

Published

4 hours ago

May 30, 2023

Estreet News

The Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah has appointed Professor Chidiebere Onyia as the new Secretary to the State Government, SSG.

The appointment was announced in a statement personally signed by the Governor on Monday and released to the press by his media office.

Until his appointment, Prof. Onyia was the Managing Director of the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Facility.

He was also the Lead strategy advisor for the Federal Government of Nigeria, World Bank Group Power Sector Recovery Programme, and has over the years rendered services to different international organizations and countries, among them the United Nations, Germany and Russia.

Prof. Onyia is a visiting Professor of Education at the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, a former visiting Professor at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and serves on the Governing Council of two private Nigerian universities.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Masters of Business Administration degree and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.

He also had a post-doctoral scholarship in Education Policy from the Ivy League Peabody College, Vanderbilt University.

Prof. Onyia, with over 25 years of experiences in leadership, innovation, strategy, institutional reforms and research, has received numerous international and national awards and accolades for leadership excellence and for his outstanding contributions to the education sector. He is well published and a certified educational consultant, researcher, presenter, mentor and author of many books.

Prof. Onyia was a member of the Transition Committee, the technical committee that developed an actionable plan for the Peter Mbah administration, based on his manifesto and social contract with the people of Enugu State.

Share on Facebook

Save

Nation

Abia Governor, Otti Summons All Perm Secs To Meeting

Published

5 hours ago

May 30, 2023

Estreet News

Abia State Governor, Alex Chioma Otti has invited all Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service to a crucial meeting today, Tuesday.

The Governor made this known in a press release signed by Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Ekeoma said that the meeting will be held at Michael Okpara auditorium in Umuahia.

The reason for the first official meeting was not disclosed, but it may not be unconnected with the Governor’s plans to reform the State’s civil service as contained in his inaugural broadcast.

Also the issue of salary arrears of civil servants which caused a three-week strike, may also be deliberated during the meeting.

Otti had during his inaugural speech abolished the dichotomy between core and non-core civil servants, saying that all civil servants would receive equal treatment in payment of salaries.

“We will treat all workers in the State as equal and none will be denied salaries while the other will be paid as it was done by the immediate past administration,” Otti had declared n his speech on Monday.

Share on Facebook

Save