By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has described the new increase in the pump price of petrol from N86 to N145 by the Federal Government as an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians.
Speaking through the Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Dr Deji Omole, ASUU charged Nigerians to resist the increment, saying it was surprising that the All Progressive Congress (APC) which campaigned that there was no subsidy under the Goodluck Jonathan administration “is now talking about the same subsidy”.
“All Nigerians must stand up against this increment and force the government to dance to the tune of the masses. Apparently this government is not in touch with the reality. Under this government we have had more insurgent group rearing their heads and more dead people. Tte news came to us as a rude shock because during the campaigns The APC was telling us that there was no subsidy,” he said.
The ASUU pointed out that “the implication is that there is no difference between the government of Jonathan and Buhari. It is just a change in name and that is why they can change from one party to another the way they like. The economy has grown worse”.
Dr Omole maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari led government failed to realise that as at present,“many state government cannot pay salaries and federal government now pays half salaries”.
“Even the University of Ibadan is incurring a debt of close to 1billion due to the shortfall of allocation from the federal government. All that has to be celebrated under the Buhari government is one year of poverty through increment in electricity tariff and many other anti-poor policies which has led to unprecedented hardship for the Nigerian workers in particular, nightmares for Nigerians and increment in food prices in the market”.
Lamenting that the President Buhari led government was “a government of propaganda and impunity, he declared that “in about few days time, this government will be celebrating one year of poverty reign in Nigeria”
“It is sad that since 2009 no single kobo has been added to the ‘poverty wage’ being paid to Nigerian workers” while the cost of living within the same period has quadruple. Since 2009 no single kobo has been added to the salaries of workers yet the cost of living keeps on skyrocketing. This government is not serious and it is living on propaganda. It has no sound economic team but a lot of media aides. In about two days time we would be celebrating one year of poverty. We are still battling with increment in electricity tariffs and now the mainstay of the nation, petroleum. The government is anti-people and entrenching impunity.”
