FG Vows not to revert to N65

The Federal Government on Wednesday vowed to press ahead with its controversial deregulation policy, saying it would not revert the pump price of fuel from N141 to N65.

The House of Representatives has, however, repeated its demand for the government to restore subsidy on fuel.

Addressing State House reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, accused Labour leaders of creating more pains for Nigerians with the ongoing general strike, mass rallies and public protests over the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan deserved to be praised rather than vilified for removing fuel subsidy.

“Deregulation is not an option arrived at in comfort or happiness. It was reviewed over a year. If Nigerians don’t want us to cripple the future of our children, deregulation is important and must stay.

“If we want the President to succeed, I believe he should be praised for taking this decision rather than being crucified,” Maku said.

The minister said although negotiations were ongoing between government and Labour, there was not going back on deregulation.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Labour, Mr. Essien Ekpenyong-Ayi, said in Abuja that it was in the interest of peace for goverment to restore the subsidy.

The government’s hard stance may push the situation out of control, as labour and civil rights groups have threatened to take tougher steps to force the return of subsidy.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had at separate sittings in the past few days advised Jonathan to revert to N65 until the conclusion of negotiations with various stakeholders.