Headline

NECA Expresses Worries Over N3trn FEC’s Approval For Subsidy On Petrol

Published

3 years ago

January 31, 2022

Editor

The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, weekend expressed fears that the N3trillion approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, to cover subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol for 18 months, was neither desirable nor sustainable for the overall resuscitation of the economy.

It will be recalled that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, forwarded a proposal of N3 trillion to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, last Wednesday to cover cost of subsidy for 18 months, July 2022 to June 2023, stating that its removal would be suspended.

NECA, which is the umbrella body for all employers in the country, however, contended that for government to effect total removal of subsidy on petrol, it must take urgent steps to address the predicted socio-economic issues which would arise as a result.

Speaking on the N3 trillion Subsidy on petrol for the next 18 months by the Federal Government, NECA said: “The subject of fuel subsidy has become a matter of perpetual recurrence.

“In the recent past, we had opined that the removal of fuel subsidy was due and in the best interest of the country.

‘’However, we were deeply concerned about the timing, in view of the nation’s continued dwindling economy.

“Consequently, we encourage the government to engage relevant stakeholders, given the huge impact the removal would have on household income and spending before its implementation.

“The N3 trillion approved by the Federal Government is a follow-up to the suspension of the planned removal of subsidy in the country.

“It should be noted that following the public outcry on government’s intention to stop the subsidy of PMS, the Federal Executive Council approved the sum of N3 trillion to cover subsidy.

‘’In taking this decision, the government noted that the abrupt removal of subsidy would lead to increased hardship in the population and heightened inflation, especially since the necessary structures that would cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the general populace were not yet in place.

“While the Federal Government has rescinded the implementation plan and rather approached the National Assembly to amend the 2022 budget and make additional provision for subsidy from July to June 2023, it is imperative to note that this is certainly not sustainable in the long term, neither is it desirable for the overall resuscitation of the Nigerian economy.

“As often canvassed by the Organised Private Sector on the growing debt debacle, we call for more collaborative efforts in the form of Public Private Partnership, PPP, in addressing the huge infrastructure deficits, in a very short term and at cheaper rate.

‘’ It is our belief that implementing the PPP initiative in provision of the country’s critical infrastructure, decent and sustainable jobs will be provided and desirable number of people will be lifted from the poverty rank, even before the desired date of 2030.

“More so, with the unpredictable nature of global oil prices and developments in usage of alternative sources of fuel and modern technology, it is more appropriate to hasten the process of diversification of the non-oil economy in expanding the revenue sources away from oil.

‘’It is obvious that revenue from non-oil is more feasible than the oil revenue. This will result in a buoyant and robust economy which will reduce the need for external debt to the barest minimum.

“Exploration of the various natural mineral deposits in the country for processing and exportation should be optimized.

“Going forward, government has to take urgent steps to address the predicted socio-economic issues which would arise if subsidy removal is to see the light of the day.

“Government should address the following urgently to foster total removal of subsidy on petrol rather than injecting trillions of naira from an already bleeding economy.

‘’They include the revival of the four refineries in the country to optimal operating capacity and encouragement of more private sector involvement in refining crude oil, complete deregulation of the downstream sector, and provision of socio-economic relief options to address the anticipated drastic reduction in the citizens’ disposable income and standard of living.”

(VANGUARD)

Headline

Trump Birthright Citizenship Order Halted In Class-action Suit

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2025

Editor

A federal judge on Thursday halted President Donald Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship, as opponents of the policy pursue a new legal avenue following the US Supreme Court’s overturning of a previous block.

The high court’s conservative majority delivered a landmark decision in late June that limits the ability of individual judges to issue nationwide injunctions against presidents’ policies.

Several such judges had in fact blocked Trump’s attempt to end the longstanding rule, guaranteed in the US Constitution, that anyone born on US soil is automatically an American citizen.

However, the Supreme Court left open the possibility that orders could be blocked via broad class-action suits against the government.

Trump’s opponents quickly filed new class-action suits seeking to block again the executive order.

On Thursday, Judge Joseph Laplante of the US District of New Hampshire granted class-action status to any child who would potentially be denied citizenship under Trump’s order. The judge ordered a preliminary halt to it as legal proceedings carry on.

The judge delayed his ruling for seven days to permit the Trump administration to appeal.

Cody Wofsy, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who argued the case, called the ruling a “huge victory” that “will help protect the citizenship of all children born in the United States, as the Constitution intended.”

Trump’s executive order decrees that children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become citizens — a radical reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

His administration has argued that the 14th Amendment, passed in the wake of the Civil War, addresses the rights of former slaves and not the children of undocumented migrants or temporary US visitors.

The Supreme Court rejected such a narrow definition in a landmark 1898 case.

The current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, avoided ruling last month on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order and only addressed the issue of nationwide injunctions.

It nonetheless permitted the order to go ahead but delayed its ruling from taking effect until late July to allow for new court challenges.

Several lower courts, in issuing their previous injunctions, had ruled that the executive order violated the Constitution.

Headline

PICTORIAL: Two Undocumented Nigerians Arrested For Drug Trafficking In Libya

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2025

Editor

Libya’s Counter-Terrorism Forces have arrested two undocumented Nigerians over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

According to a statement shared by Migrant Rescue Watch on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the suspects were caught with quantities of hashish and hallucinogenic pills, including Tramadol and Lyrica.

Authorities also recovered a large sum of cash suspected to be proceeds from drug sales during the operation.

Following their arrest, the two Nigerians have been handed over to the appropriate legal authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The statement said, “Counter-Terrorism Forces arrested 2 undocumented #migrants of Nigerian nationality for drug trafficking. The individuals were found in possession of hashish, hallucinogenic pills “Tramadol” & “Lyrica” as well as cash from proceeds.

“Both individuals were referred to competent authorities for legal action.”

Headline

31 Workers Escape Death As Tunnel Collapses In Los Angeles

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

Editor

All 31 workers escaped without injuries from a collapsed industrial tunnel in Los Angeles’ Wilmington area, after scrambling over a tall pile of loose underground soil, city officials said late on Wednesday.

The trapped workers were shuttled back to the tunnel’s entry point, more than 5 miles (8 km) away from the affected area, after they escaped the collapsed section and met several coworkers in the unaffected part of the tunnel, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement.

The tunnel, which had a diameter of 18 ft (5.5 m), trapped 27 individuals, while four workers entered the damaged section to assist with rescue, LA Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva told reporters in a media briefing.

“The workers had to climb through debris. They had to make themselves out through,” before they were assisted out, Villanueva said.

Robert Ferrante, chief engineer and general manager of Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, told the briefing that a section of the already built part of the tunnel experienced squeezing ground conditions and partially collapsed.

“LAFD has just reported that all workers who were trapped in the tunnel in Wilmington are now out and accounted for. I just spoke with many of the workers who were trapped. Thank you to all of our brave first responders who acted immediately,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a post on X.

The collapsed section was a part of the Los Angeles County’s Clearwater Project, where the new 7-mile tunnel is being built to upgrade the region’s sewer system, officials added.

(Reuters)