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Monday, January 09, 2012

Fuel subsidy: Nigerians share grievances on Internet


The current tension in the land over the removal of fuel subsidy has forced new media enthusiasts in the country to carry their grievances to the internet relying on social media networks to share grievances and strategies for the planned total strike taking off today, Monday, January 9, 2012.

While some use Facebook, others chose Twitter and Yfrog to name a few of the social media networks on the Internet to distribute information.

This came as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have variously denied rumours make a round that services, especially on the Blackberry offering would be cut off to avert impending revolt by Nigerians using mobile technology devices in communicating during the strike.

Even as NBC said every station has the right to cover protest, but must ensure that the interest of the nation takes prime position.

ITRealms Online investigations at the weekend revealed that since the proclamation of the removal of fuel subsidy on Sunday, January 1, 2012 by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, Nigerians have taken solace on the Internet to share information especially their hardship following the removal.

Whereas some Nigerians have asked the Jonathan government to cut government waste rather than removing fuel subsidy as his New Year gift to Nigerians, others insisted that charity must start at home with the Presidency cutting on the cost of governance at the Aso Villa.

A public statement made available to ITRealms Online by some civil society organisations, government, they said should make petrol affordable, maintaining that it’s the only thing government do as it does not provide water, electricity, good roads, good health care facilities or good educational opportunities.

The civil society group also said that the removal has forced an increment which has doubled across the country including the cost of transportation, food, health care, and cost of running businesses in addition to the cost of generating electricity through the generating sets, whereas most salaries is now worth at least 35 per cent less as goods and services have tippled on average.

According to the group, although the minimum wage remain N18,000, the government at all levels have not implemented this wholesomely, contending that the government could save money by cutting waste and tackling corruption, most of which exist in the public service.

They noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently prosecuting former Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, his counterpart from Oyo State, ex-police offer, Adebayo Alao-Akala among others for over N200 billion.

Equally, they argued that the government disburses N250 billion per year as ‘security votes’ to the President and Governors, which they could spend at will.

The 2012 budget, they pointed out has allocated approximated N1 billion to purported ‘feeding’ for the president and the vice president, while the same budget allocated N1.7 trillion wage bill and N675 million to generate power in the Aso Villa and VP’s residence respectively.

They, therefore, urged Nigerians to join the protests in their cities, send a Short Messaging Service (SMS) to share their opinion on 0816666222 and 08120006622 as well as send an electronic mail to info@eienigeria.org.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs

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