News

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Labour Leaders React To Tinubu’s Inaugural Speech

Published

3 years ago

May 29, 2023

Editor

Some stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have commended President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement on removal of fuel subsidy.

They made the commendations in seperate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos on Monday after Tinubu’s inaugural speech as Nigeria’s President.

Mr Mike Osatuyi, the National Operations Controller, lndependent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said that the removal was a welcome development geared toward revamping the downstream sector of oil and gas industry.

Osatuyi said that Tinubu had promised to remove fuel subsidy right from the first day of his campaign.

NAN reports that the president during his inaugural address, promised to end fuel subsidy, insisting that no budgetary allocation was made in the 2023 budget.

Tinubu promised to focus subsidy funds on infrastructural projects, education and healthcare.

According to Osatuyi, the pronouncement is part of his campaign promises.

He said that Tinubu during his campaign had said that from day one of his administration that he would remove fuel subsidy.

“The money used on subsidy will be diverted to develop other sector.

“That means Tinubu has begun to fulfill his campaign promises,” he said.

The IPMAN boss said that the removal would bring about competition among players and also address the issue of monopoly.

Osatuyi said that the subsidy removal would lead to market liberalisation, availability of product and check excesses of middlemen.

He, however, said that there would be increase in price of petroleum but added that there would be competition.

Osatuyi noted that the money saved from subsidy removal would be used to boost the economy and the well-being of Nigerians.

“I commend his effort and laud the courage for taking the bull by the horn.”

Also, Mr Tunji Oyebanji, Managing Director, 11 Plc, said that the pronouncement was a timely decision for the country.

Oyebanji, however, said it was not clear if the removal of fuel subsidy was with immediate effect.

“Scarce resources will be channelled to productive sectors of the economy.

“Borrowing levels will reduce significantly. It may possibly lead to the strengthen of the Naira,” he said.

Mr Obafemi Olawore, former Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria

(MOMAN), who supported the subsidy removal, said there was need for the nation to move toward full deregulation.

“However, as a new admintration, it must be done in phases; over six to 12 months to give room for consultation and engagement so as to make it bearable and less painful.”

Mr Joe Nwakwue, an oil and gas consultant and a former Chairman, SPE Nigerian Council, said that President Tinubu was right when he said that petroleum subsidies are no longer sustainable.

Nwakwue said that considering the pain and social implications of removal, it would be irresponsible for any government to just yank it off without a plan.

“A multi-month plan that addresses key fuel market issues/challenges and measures to alleviate the pain needs to be crafted, adopted and rolled out.

“A knee jerk removal would be painful to the consuming public and potentially catastrophic to the economy,” he said.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

4 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.