- Says No Going Back On Fuel Subsidy Removal
- To Slash Political Office Holders Salaries by 25%,
- Intends to Create 10,000 New Jobs In Each State ……
Are these possibilities or is the president just out to bamboozle us in other to avert the impending strike action?
President Goodluck Jonathan, in a move to avert the impending Labour protests across the country on Monday, this night announced new policy measures to ameliorate the hardship on Nigerians occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
In the press release to the nation, President GEJ promised to slash the basic salaries of political office holders in the executive arm of government by 25%.
GEJ in the press release orchestrated to re-echo government’s resolve to remove oil subsidy, also announced reductions of the size of delegations on foreign trips, overhead expenses of Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals.
While recognizing the hardship the unpopular policy cum decision will have on the average Nigerian, the nation helmsman said, “the truth is that we are all faced with two basic choices with regard to the management of the downstream petroleum sector: either we deregulate and survive economically, or we continue with a subsidy regime that will continue to undermine our economy and potential for growth, and face serious consequences.”
“I have a duty to bring up policies and programmes that will grow the economy and bring about greater benefits for the people.” He noted further saying, the policy of deregulation of the Petroleum sector is not aimed at inflicting pains and hardship on Nigerians.
He also reaffirmed that proceeds realized from the removal of fuel subsidy will be reinvested to ensure improvement in national infrastructure, power supply, transportation, irrigation and agriculture, education, healthcare, and other social services, is in the best interest of our people.
In the same speech, he disclosed that Government has directed the immediate commencement of a Public Works programme that will engage the services of about 10, 000 youths in every state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory in an effort to create an additional 370, 000 jobs.