We can�t run away from fuel price hike � Obasanjo� Strike continues � Oshiomhole
Yomi Odunuga and Michael Faloseyi Abuja
President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday in Abuja said his government would not revert to the old prices of petroleum products, stating that succumbing to such populist opinion would not only be �escapist� but would stall economic development.
Inaugurating a 33-member Independent Committee for Cushioning Measures headed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; and the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, as member, Obasanjo said critics of the privatisation and deregulation were deliberately portraying the administration in bad light.
Though Oshiomhole attended the inauguration, our correspondents gathered, that the labour leader might not have been properly briefed on the agenda.
The NLC president who had earlier told journalists that he was at The Presidency to continue dialogue on the recent hike in prices of petroleum products, said after the committee�s inauguration that the strike continues on Tuesday (today).
In apparent reference to the NLC's opposition to the price hike, Obasanjo said bowing to what he called the "populist options" would be tantamount to postponing the evil day.
Acknowledging that the citizens would experience temporary hardship from the hike, the president said the committee would be
mandated to evolve measures that would cushion such hardship.
He said, "Populist options may be sweet but they do not endure and may not build for tomorrow. Cosmetic programmes and diversionary strategies may satisfy short-term or immediate constituencies and yearnings, but the society at large would pay the cost at the end. That has been our experience in the past.
�Postponing the evil day is escapist and unfair to the dreams, hopes aspirations, and sacrifices of a people that want to lay viable foundations for growth, development and overall improvement in their living conditions. We believe that tough decisions must be taken when necessary but must also be mediated with cushioning measures as necessary, hence this Committee."
He said the tough decisions and reforms being carried out in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry were necessary and would ultimately lead to the overall improvement in the living conditions of Nigerians.
The president said though his policies were being misunderstood in some quarters, his administration would not relent in its determination to restructure and reposition the country and set it on the path of economic stability.
Expressing his administration's willingness to embrace dialogue and seek advice when necessary, Obasanjo charged the committee to, �collate, harmonise and coordinate the measures that would bring short-term relief and medium term positive impact on the effect of the high prices".
Speaking at the occasion, Mantu thanked the government for giving the members the opportunity to serve in the committee, noting that there was need to find an urgent solution to the increases in the prices of petroleum products.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara; Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Women Affairs, Obong Rita Akpan; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Hassan M. Lawal; and Minister of Inter-governmental Affairs Special Duties and Youth Development, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, are also members of the committee.
Also in the committee are: Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu; Economic Adviser, National Planning Commission, Prof. Ode Ojowu; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji M. Yayale Ahmed; and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Funsho Kupolokun.
Shortly after the inauguration of the committee, Oshiomhole told journalists that the strike would continue because the government had not shown any proof that it wanted it to end.
He said, "The strike continues because before you can begin to tinker with the strike you have to have irreversible progress. We haven't yet got there."
"We need to see proof that the appeals of the Nigerian people will be taken into consideration."
�Our decision is that the first of the warning strike would last till Thursday. If there are developments to necessitate reconsideration, of course, it is for the competent organ of our respective bodies to consider.
�The real challenge is what the committee is able to do to address the cries of the Nigerian people that these prices should be reversed. The challenge of every leadership and of every government is to have a focus. We don't need to wait till the next price increase.
�We would ensure the terms of reference of the committee are made elastic enough to deal with the issues. We already have our set of programmes, the warning strike, if it fails another round of strike will commence.�
Mr. Oshiomhole, warned the Police to desist from harassing labour, civil society organisations official and Nigerians during the protests.
