JAF's Press Statement issued on January 1, 2012 in reaction to the formal removal of the so-called fuel subsidy

Sunday, January 1^st 2012

PRESS STATEMENT

NIGERIANS, ARISE NOW

TO RESIST THE WICKED HIKE IN FUEL PRICE

1.    The Joint Action Front (JAF) - the pro-labour civil society partner in the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) – has just learnt from media report that the Federal Government (FG) through its agency – the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has formally removed the so-called subsidy in PMS and hiked prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol from N65 to N141.

2.    According to the statement signed the agency Executive Secretary – Reginald Stanley, it stated that “Following extensive consultation with stakeholders across the nation, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) wishes to inform all stakeholders of the commencement of formal removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), in accordance with the powers conferred on the agency by the law establishing it, in compliance with Section 7 of PPPRA Act, 2004. By this announcement, the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry is hereby deregulated for PMS. Service providers in the sector are now to procure products and sell same in accordance with the indicative benchmark price to be published forthnightly and posted on the PPPRA website. Petroleum products marketers are to note that no one will be paid subsidy on PMS discharges after 1st January 2012”.

3.    We strongly condemn the Jonathan presidency for this wicked hike in prices and its decision to inflict unnecessary suffering and punishment on Nigerians.

4.    In anticipation of the introduction of this wicked increases in fuel prices, JAF has its media briefing on December 21^st 2011 declared that Nigerians should begin MASS ACTION effective from Tuesday, January 3^rd, 2012.

5.    Nigerians are hereby enjoined to BOYCOTT and SHUT the FILLING STATIONS that SELL FUEL above the current prices of (petrol @ N65 a litre, kerosene @ N50 a litre and diesel @ N70 a litre).

6.   Use MASS ACTION to Enforce STAY-AT-HOME and STRIKE ACTIONS whenever labour and its allies in Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) declares such.

7.   Also, JAF wishes to restate that its kick-off of MASS ACTION slated for January 3^rd 2012 @ 8am prompt @ the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yaba-Lagos is in force, and in line with this earlier directive, JAF therefore urges NIGERIANS TO JOIN THE STRUGGLE ANYWHERE THEY ARE TO REJECT AND RESIST THIS WICKED HIKE IN PRICES WITH MASS ACTION.

8.   JAF demands that:

·         the 4 Refineries must be made to work and the building of new ones to make petroleum products cheaper and affordable to all; and

·         Ensuring a new POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ORDER that will end the era of Privatisation, Deregulation, looting and exploitation by the corrupt capitalist ruling cabals and ensure that wealth of the country is judiciously applied to benefit the majority working population (formal and informal sectors) and the poor.

DR. DIPO FASHINA                              COMRADE ABIODUN AREMU

JAF Chairperson                                               JAF Secretary