PENGASSAN urges labour unions to pressurise FG to subsidise power

President of the union, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, who made the disclosure in Lagos, said subsidizing those key sectors of the economy is the panacea to engender the real growth of the country.He said: “Power is the bedrock of any country’s development and with regular supply of power, the small and medium scale and the informal […]

President of the union, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, who made the disclosure in Lagos, said subsidizing those key sectors of the economy is the panacea to engender the real growth of the country.
He said: “Power is the bedrock of any country’s development and with regular supply of power, the small and medium scale and the informal sector of the economy can grow. Instead of erratic and epileptic power supply and irrational hike in electricity charges, labour should channel their protest and struggle to ensure that this important sector that can jumpstart and grow the nation’s economy is subsidize.
“Also rail transportation can alleviate the suffering of the masses and reduce congestion on our roads. Rail is a veritable means of mass transportation use in the developed countries. The nation’s healthcare and educational system is in sorry state and the government can subsidize these all important sectors to the benefit of the Nigerian masses.”
He further advised other trade unions in Nigeria to change their positions and stop supporting payment of subsidy on petroleum products.
He  stated that the payment of subsidy on petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, is not to the advantage of the Nigerian masses but only favour few individuals.
According to him, subsidy regime only benefits few individuals constituted themselves into cabal.
“It is high time labour stop saying no to the removal of subsidy and look beyond ordinary reasoning to support the government against a policy and process that has been bleeding the country dry as well as stunting the growth of the nation’s downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.
“The money being used in payment of subsidy to these few individuals who are enriching themselves at the expense of whole Nigeria can be channelled towards other developmental projects, especially the nation’s ailing and dilapidated infrastructures,” he said.
He advocated the need for the government to encourage establishment of new refineries to be run in partnership or Joint Venture (JV) with private investors so that Nigeria can be producing to meet our local demand and create employment.