Nigeria: Groups Vow Continued Action Despite Price Reduction
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Monday, 23 January 2012 |
A coalition of civic groups has vowed to continue to protest against the new fuel pricing system, despite a reduction in prices announced last week by President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos State, Save Nigeria Group (SNG) convenor Pastor Tunde Bakare said that the groupwould continue its action and peaceful protest against the removal of fuel subsidies.
The group are seeking a return to pump prices of 65 naira for petrol, breaking with the lead of the country's most prominent labour unions. the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspended their national strike campaign following Jonathan's partial climbdown from full downstream deregulation: in a radio address, the President had announced that pump prices would be reduced from 141 naira to 97 naira. The unions will now participate in an ad-hoc Government committee called to address the crisis.
In interviews, Tunde Bakare was quick to note that the group is seeking policy change rather than the collapse of the regime. The SNG had planned a rally in Lagos on Saturday, but was forced to cancel the event following a terrorist attack in Kano.
PetrolWorld 23012012
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