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Medical Practitioners Back NLC Position on Removal of Fuel Subsidy

By Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt

National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGNDP) has aligned with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to call on the Federal Government to suspend the removal of fuel subsidy and revert to the old pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

In a statement made available to The AUTHORITY in Port Harcourt, signed by Dr Sofiri Starson Peterside, Dr Enobong Akpan, National President and Secretary respectfully, the doctors said suspending the subsidy removal will avert the looming multi- sectoral industrial disharmony that may grind the country to a halt.

The medical practitioners, described the effect of the decision by the Bola Tinubu’s led Federal Government on subsidy removal in the face of a very challenging economy as catastrophic.

The group said the decision to align with the NLC, arise from an emergency meeting of their National Officers Committee with deliberation on the removal of subsidy.

The doctors expressed that the decision by the federal government to remove fuel subsidy and the subsequent announcement on the inauguration day was hastily done, without proper consultation, effective planning, socioeconomic cushioning and protective measures.

Also that the opinion of federal government to ultimately remove fuel subsidy in order to meet her social obligations is instructive, and that the absence of strategic planning in a very low and fragile economy renders such a decision very ill- timed.

in their resolutions at the meeting, the medical practitioners, resolved “That our refineries should be revamped to functional capacity as soon as possible, and licenses should be given for the establishment of more refineries to encourage local production of Petroleum products.

“The Federal Government should institute measures to stop crude oil theft, secure our borders and stop leakages within the oil and gas sector.

“There should be a committee set up by the Federal Government to audit the subsidy regime since its inception and the use of funds recurrently allocated for repair of our refineries and that the culprits brought to book.

“There is urgent need for the Federal government to strengthen healthcare financing by ensuring at least 15% budgetary allocation to the health sector.

There is also need to achieve the universal health coverage through primary healthcare and National/State health insurance schemes across the country, in order to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and guarantee accessible and affordable healthcare.

“The Federal Government should set up a robust economic team that will establish cushioning measures to protect citizens when the subsidy is eventually removed. Priority should be given to measures aimed at addressing the widespread hunger and poverty in the country. They should also bring on board palliative measures mitigate the impact of the eventual subsidy removal on citizens, especially those on low incomes.

“That the Federal Government, in the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice, should take measures to cut down the cost of governance by the Executive and the

National Assembly, reduce borrowing, and channel such funds other critical sectors of the economy, including minimum wage increase.

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration should demonstrate empathy to the citizens of this country, by doing what is necessary to alleviate the sufferings of the Nigerian people”.

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