 The federal government suspended the planned petrol subsidy removal. The announcement came through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmad. Speaking during a meeting held at the National Assembly in Abuja, the minister said the suspension is too further noticed. It was earlier reported that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Tamipre Silva, said the President was not in support of the removal of the subsidy. Let me start by stating the fact that we did make a provision in the 2020 budget for fuel subsidy for January 2022. And that suggests that from July there will be no subsidy. And this provision was made sequel to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act that has made a provision that all products will be deregulated. Subsequent to the passage of the Act went back and amended the fiscal framework that was submitted to National Assembly to incorporate this demand. But after the budget was passed and we have had consultations with a number of stakeholders, it became clear that the timing is problematic, that practically there is still heightened inflation. And also the removal of subsidy will further worsen the situation thereby imposing more difficulties on the citizens. And Mr. President clearly does not want to do that. So what we have to do now is to continue with the discussions that we're making in terms of putting in place a number of measures, one of which is the deployment of an alternative to the CMP, which is a CMP. It's very clear. It is clear to the blind and audible to the deaf that it is not possible at this time for us to remove the subsidy. We know that some may say or some political people will try to bring a big political capsule out of it, but it is not within the contemplation now of this administration to remove subsidy. But of course if there are legislative enablers that will also ensure that it is within the law, then I think it's a legislative responsibility. It will be at such a point attributed to the high school degree. It will be very minimized and taken care of by several governments. And it's not about the NSE. NSE is not meant to be the NSE or the TUC. We are talking about it's just an organized part of the system. But we are both signed to the NSE. And I'm taking this opportunity to use the analysis to share these All right, we're now being joined by the Deputy President of the Niger Label Congress, Amici Asugunin. Many thanks for joining us on the news now on plus TV Africa, Mr Asugunin. Yeah, thank you so much. Let's talk about some subsidy removal. Your group, that's the Niger Label Congress, has actually said before now that there'll be no going back on this planned strike with the new development and the federal government calling off the planned subsidy. What's the position of labor in this situation right now? I think that the plan of labor the same with regards to the plan action for 27 Thursday this month of January. The action is not about federal government postponing or creating alternative to the very action that they seem to be anti-people. We are saying it is not an option on the refineries are built in Nigeria. So it's not about whether they're deferring it to June. Even though you defer it to December this year, it's unacceptable because we have had years without productivity. Federal government had opportunity for 1999 in date. Refineries are not working. So there is no way you can hide on that any guy to begin to now say that instead of February it will be June. We don't need notice of suffering and there's nobody that will save such action from federal government. The inability to put refineries to work is enough to quit and not to suffer Nigeria further. So for us the protest is to correct the mentality that there is an option to remove subsidy that tomorrow they will tell us there's no subsidy. Next tomorrow it appears as if there's subsidy. Who are the beneficiaries of this? So federal government should put refineries to work. Make that product a local product. Produce for yourself and the spot to gain income. So Nigeria Labor Congress will not tolerate anything short of this. The plan action will continue. And that is the position. All right. Good to know. But let's do talk more concerning your concerns, which is the refineries that you want the federal government to put them to work. Are you issuing a particular timeframe? What are you looking at as regard some time? Because over time this issue of the refineries have been, have taken front burner and that would don't seem to be getting a clear direction as to what we are doing with the refineries and we're still importing petroleum products. What timeline are you giving the federal government? Like for how long do you think they should fix this refineries before you know that things will be back to normal? You know, it's sinful for government or anybody to actually expect labor to issue automaton with regards to when the refineries work. What is important here is federal government to prioritize the option of refineries working as main deal because it's looking deliberate. Beneficial is to this subsidy. Beneficial is to this very importation. Are the same people giving this very advice to remove subsidy and make this product their product in such a way that PMS will not be sold at 500 naira in this same country that people expected dollar to drop. So there's no better timeline than to prioritize. When you make that option a priority for the federal government, it become a matter of timing for the government in office which they have less than a year now to show their last performance and in between now and end of this year we can have refineries function effectively to the ultimate position that we can actually produce what we can consume. Rather than government telling Nigeria that the refineries are not in worship, we have seen countries that had in Indian refineries are working for almost 100 years and they are sitting in worship. So would not tell them that the refineries that has not worked before you are now rendering those facilities to be useless and scraps. It's very unfortunate that federal government is not seeing employment in all this argument rather all they see is theory. It's unfortunate we are fighting unemployment for those things that should clear job we are against them. This is very unfortunate. I'm actually let me just try and put a word in edgewise. What are we going to see differently this time around? This is not the first time you know this issue of fixing the refineries have actually been brought you know to the fore. You know over time the president, the not the president, the federal government comes you know make some negotiation with label and they make promises and over the years that this strikes are going to be called off and over time nothing will change. So what are we what is label going to do differently this time around? Label is going to engage strategies now that we are protecting for government not to go ahead with the plan removal of subsidy that eventually return suffering to Nigerians. Label will further engage should federal government go to sleep label will put them on their toes in ensuring that they don't continue subsidy in the pocket of few but rather utilize the avenue. How can you borrow money to the extent that we're almost borrowing money to service subsidy. It's insulting to the nation. So if you're borrowing money, borrow money to put refineries to work and use the same refineries dividend to service the loan. You don't have what you give you income and employment and you keep sitting on it and keep complaining. How can federal government depend on ready made income on yearly basis we keep planning budget on all you make income. That is that you have a product and such product is like you having cassava having yam and then you are buying the powder of this yam. You are buying all the things that you needed to make what they call yam flour and other countries. Why not buy the grinding machine and grind your yam in your country and the spot the flour and income and then make our currency strong. And every day we keep depending on labor to issue automation or to protest this plan government will not meet. This time you see protest being drawn. That is when federal government will tell you the plan on the particular subject. All right. It's useful. All right. Finally I mentioned very quickly before we let you go. How do you see this particular plan strike and turning that you see the people coming out on mass in solidarity. Do you think Nigerians still believe in the effort and of course the workings of the Nigerian Labor Congress. The mobilization so far down for 37 protests is sufficient but what troubles me most is should the 27 protests be taken for granted federal government will never like the outcome of the indefinite strike action that has been put on the pipeline because the action certainly will be uncontrollable and I just I just advise that they must advance it needless for governors to say if they want to do it of engaged labor. There is no labor leader that will be in attendance or in a meeting that will be discussing returning assets to Nigerians. Thank God this election here people are already campaigning so it's a good avenue for politicians to advertise their exit to Nigerians and I believe labor will actually lead that very journey safely. This protest is going to be sufficient and it's going to be thorough. All right. Thank you so much indeed. We just hope that we'll begin to see all the changes in the downstream sector and of course ensure that our refineries are working at an optimal basis. We have been speaking with the Deputy President of the Niger Labor Congress Amici Asuguni. Many thanks for your thought and input on the news tonight. We do appreciate them. You're welcome. Thank you. Good night. Hello. Hope you enjoyed the news. Please do subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.