Subsidy Strike Handling: Senate Hail Jonathan, Labour, Mark

ABUJA, January 16, (THWILL) - The Senate Monday hailed the Presidency, organized labour, and the leadership of the National Assembly over the handling and resolution of the labour/government logjam.

Particularly the upper chamber applauded President of the Senate, Senator David Mark for working tirelessly to resolve the impasse that led to thee near shutdown of the nation’s economy.

The Senate in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, especially commended the leadership of the organized labour; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for promptly calling off the strike action in difference to the ongoing dialogue to resolve the issues raised by the deregulation of the petroleum industry.

In the same vein, the statement said the Senate noted most gratifyingly that “the President and Commander in Chief, Dr Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, displayed such admirable statesmanship to bend backwards and cut the price of petrol, to set the stage for amicable settlement of the crisis that nearly shutdown the economy.

“The gesture is by no means a great sacrifice that highlights our collective resolve to advance the course of democracy and accept the inevitability of dialogue as the only means of resolving any disagreement,” he said.

However, the Senate according to Senator Abaribe urged the government to go all out to probe the oil industry; particularly the management of the subsidy fund and not to spare any individual or group that will be implicated in the scam.

“The Senate as a responsive institution has always called for accountability and transparency in the oil and gas sector. That was the reason the Senate instituted a probe panel to investigate the sector, especially the management of the subsidy fund, which led to the discovery and exposing of the beneficiaries of the fund. It is therefore hoped that the government will go all out to restore confidence in that sector, by sparing no individuals or groups that ripped-off the national treasury through the subsidy issue,” he said.

The statement in part reads: “The Senate is happy that a truce has been reached in the lingering crisis occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol. More so, the Senate received as most heartwarming the suspension of the strike action by the organized labour.

“Senate notes most gratifyingly also that the President and Commander in Chief, Dr Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, displayed such admirable statesmanship to bend backwards and cut the price of petrol, to set the stage for amicable settlement of the crisis that nearly shut down the national economy.

“The gesture is by no means a great sacrifice that highlights our collective resolve to advance the course of democracy and accept the inevitability of dialogue as the only means of resolving any disagreement.

“Consequently, Senate congratulates all, in particular the leadership of the organized labour, for calling off the strike in all its form and mode. Labour’s prompt action is a tacit recognition that Nigeria cannot be at a standstill and that the country must march on to the path of total socio-economic and political transformation. The senate however, urges all the parties to adhere to the terms of the agreement and for government to ensure the full implementation of the palliative measures, which it has promised in the light prevailing circumstance

“However, Senate congratulates its Leadership, particularly Senate President, Senator David A.B Mark GCON for working tirelessly, painstakingly and maturely to mobilize the entire Leadership of the National Assembly to assist in resolving the crisis in the interest of the country.

“The Senate also welcomes the commitment of government to sanitize the petroleum industry, tackle inherent corruption therein and punish those found culpable.”