Solanke, Adegbite urge dialogue, co-operation

Date: 2001-03-22

AS protests organised by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against Federal Government's planned deregulation of petroleum products pricing gain momentum, a cleric and president of the Kwara State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Kolawole Solanke, has appealed to labour to reconsider its hard-line posture and embrace dialogue.

Similarly, the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Lateef Adegbite, has called for caution and urged the labour leaders to see reason with the government because the measure is inevitable.

To ensure that the protests do not degenerate into violence, impromptu night prayers have been organised in some churches in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

Bishop Solanke told The Guardian yesterday that the rally was "uncalled for" and reminded the union of the hardships Nigerians faced under military.

He urged labour to refrain from any act that could bring back the military.

Solanke, who canvassed dialogue in place of protest, said: "For now, we don't need any protest in Nigeria. All we need is to have dialogue with the government. The NLC protest will give additional burdens to both the government and the workers.

"Besides, who bears the brunt? The masses of course. When the salaries of workers were recently jerked up by the government, did the NLC argue for the improvement of conditions of living of the masses they now claim to be fighting for?, he added.

Expressing the belief that deregulation could be a veritable economic measure for the economy's turnaround, Solanke, who is also the Methodist Bishop of Kwara Diocese, urged the government to embark on intensive campaign before its introduction.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command has promised a hitch-free rally in the state but it denied giving permit to the NLC to organise the protest rally which has been fixed for March 27, this year.

The Police Commissioner Gazali Lawal, said the protesters do not require our permit. We will guide and guard them as provided for in the constitution.

"Although, we have not been officially informed, but our investigations have shown that the NLC in the state would hold their rally on the 27th of this month," he stated.

Adegbite told The Guardian in Abeokuta that labour needed to approach the issue more constructively by carefully examining the pros and cons of the exercise.

He said deregulation could curb the frequent fuel shortages and its attendant hike in transportation fares.

Adegbite, who regretted that the controversy over the issue was escalating, stated that the workers may have misunderstood what deregulation is all about.

He said: "It appears that the labour movement has not fully understood what deregulation entails. NLC has taken only one aspect of it which is increase in pump price. It needs to approach the issue more constructively by placing it in a proper perspective, he stressed.

The NSCIA scribe said in the long-run, there would be more functioning refineries owned and managed by the private sector which will give room for adequate fuel supply and through market forces, prices will be forced down which is "the practice all over the world."

Besides, he stressed that deregulation would also ensure consistent and effective supply of fuel which enable industries to operate at installed capacity and increase in supply of goods at lower prices.

Deregulation is a global exercise, there is no way Nigerians can run away from it. It is inevitable, he asserted.

He, therefore, advised the workers to assist government to find a lasting solution to the fuel crisis to end the incessant increase in its price and the hardships faced by Nigerians.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Otuka     Shehu Raheem Adaramaja     Toyosi Thomas     Saidu Yaro Musa     Neo Mundo Ltd     Timothy Akangbe     KFA     Innocent Okoye     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Ibrahim Mohammed     Amusa Bello     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Oloyede     Joseph Offorjama     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Umar Gunu     Sola Saraki University     RTEAN     Igosun     Halimah Perogi     Agor     Iponrin     Dan Masanin     Oluwole Dupe     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Emir Of Yashikira     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     07039448763     Peter Obi     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Idowu Laro     Salman Suleiman     Ahmed Bayero     Habeeb Saidu     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Arca Santa     Ajayi Okasanmi     Lai Gobir     Ladi Hassan     Henry Olaosebikan     Sa\'adu Salahu     Al-Hikmah University     NTA Ilorin     Dauda Adesola     Sabo-Oke     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Abdulazeez Arowona     Agboola Abdulraheem     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Suleiman Ajadi     Saadu Alanamu     Daud Adeshola     Bola Tinubu     Dorcas Afeniforo     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Saba Jibril     Ibrahim Orire     Jalala     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Olateju Lukman     Galadiman Ngeri     Odo-Owa     Code Of Conduct     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Yusuf Mubarak     Ali Ahmad     Salihu Ajia     Idris Garba     Saad Omo Iya     Hijaab     Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists     Young Progressives Party     Ajikobi    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kwara Polytechnic     Lai Gobir     Ijakadi     TETFUND     Oluranti Idowu     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     COVID     Facebook     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     March 28     Salman Suleiman     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Jaigbade Alao     Bello Abubakar     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Lai Mohammed     Babaloja-General     National Information Technology Development Agency     Segun Abifarin     Bahago     NTA Ilorin     Yakubu Gobir     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Ohoro Of Shao     Olatomiwa Williams     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Isaac Gbenle     Hamid Bobboyi     Samuel Adedoyin     Shehu Jimoh     Wale Oladepo     Sa\'adu Salahu     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Ibrahim Jawondo     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Baruba     Solomon Edojah     Abdulazeez Arowona     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Babaita     Quran     Adeniyi Ojo     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Hakeem Idris     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Isiaka Alikinla     Saba Mamman Daniel     Just Event Online     CCB     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Opobiyi     Tunji Folami     Alanamu     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Sanusi Abubakar     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Atunwa     Micheal Imoudu     Kaiama     Allocation     Onilu     Saliu Tunde Bello     SARS     Ahmed \'Lateef     Modupe Oluwole     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Bola Tinubu     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Shaaba Lafiagi     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Florence Saraki