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CNG, PENGASSAN criticize Govs’ proposal for petrol price hike to N385 per litre
By Modupe shodeinde
The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, on Thursday has condemned the Nigerian Governors’ Forum proposal of an increase in the pump price of petrol from N162 to N385 at a time the country is in a dire economic situation.
CNG spokesman, Suleiman Abdul-Azeez, in an interview with Vanguard said that such a proposal was unreasonable at a time the nation is struggling to pull itself from the brinks.
He added that what the country needed was an improvement in the quality of life of the people.
“Our reaction, as usual, is that the proposal of the governors is unreasonable as almost all their decisions on major national issues have been. The only remaining option is for Nigerians to mobilize and reject any further increase in fuel pump prices.
“On our part, we have placed all our affiliates on notice of an impending mass action to force an unconditional reversal in the event of any hike.
“Meanwhile, we condemn the Governors’ proposal as insensitive and completely unacceptable. No responsible government would think of adding to the present dire situation of a country that is already on the brink.
“It is an irony that a government that came to power on the back of promises of improving the quality of life of the people would within a few years assume the reputation of being the worst in the history of Nigeria. Buhari’s government that has lost its courage and the necessary capacity to secure its citizens is certainly a failed administration,” he said.
Also, reacting to the proposal, the General Secretary of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Lumumba Okwugbawa, said: “Their recommendation will not fly because nobody understands the template they used in arriving at their recommendations. For example, what is the landing cost of the imported PMS?
“PENGASSAN has always supported a deregulation based on local production. Any deregulation based on or driven by importation is bound to cause serious challenges because we are not in control of the fluctuations of oil prices and exchange rates.”
