The Nation December 23, 2011

Page 1

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Appeal Court sacks Senator Andy Uba, Rep Ekwunife Sport Keshi bans wearing of earrings by Super Eagles Business CBN governor: 90% Nigerians live below $2 per day

P6 P24 P11

www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 1983 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011

N150.00

Subsidy battle in Lagos Labour, govt forces clash at Town Hall Meeting I

T was a battle of intellect yesterday in Lagos. The issue – the government’s controversial plan to remove fuel subsidy. On one side were government officials, including Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and others. They explained why the subsidy, which the government says has cost about N1.3 trillion this year, should go. On the other side were activists, unionists and some dignitaries. But the Federal Government got support from Edo

WHO SAID WHAT I would say let the Federal Government move forward on the road it has chosen, but we have a right to insist that every naira be accounted for and not put in private pockets. – Oshiomhole By Adebisi Onanuga, Staff Reporter

State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, a former Labour chief. The governor endorsed the removal of subsidy but canvassed the prosecution of those responsible for the failure of the refineries. They all spoke at the Town

If we borrow to subsidise today, it is our children that are subsidising us. Let’s take a difficult decision today and make tomorrow better by supporting the removal of subsidy. – Sanusi

Hall meeting organised by the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) to review the debate on the combustible issue. The theme: “Removal of Petroleum subsidy: In whose interest.” NPAN President and Thisday chairman Mr. Nduka Obaigbena moderated the

meeting. The activists said the petrol pump price being contemplated by the government is a reflection of the inefficiency of the government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). They said President Goodluck Jonathan should fish out the cabal that has

What we are fighting for is governance in its real term. We would fight to re-invent our society ... government should build more refineries. – Esele

taken over the petroleum sector and all those who took money from the government but failed to carry out Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the refineries. Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Peter Esele; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Vice President Issa Aremu; Constitutional law-

yer Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), rights activist Femi Falana; and Silverbird chair Ben Murray-Bruce spoke at the event. The activists refused to be swayed by Mrs OkonjoIweala’s claims that the government intends to put in Continued on page 2

Presidency budgets N1.2b for State House clinic

P •Dr Jonathan

RESIDENCY workers are sure of good healthcare next year – going by the budget for the State House Medical Centre (SHMC). In the budget, N1,240,213,993 is voted for the centre, which is open to

PDP: Bayelsa primary final •Activists fight for Sylva From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday foreclosed a reversal of its controversial governorship primary in Bayelsa State. But the international community is being urged to intervene in the dispute by activists who insist that Governor Timipre Sylva was elbowed out of the race. The party’s National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja endorsed the nomination of Mr. Seriake Dickson as the PDP candidate in February’s general election. The party’s top organ also endorsed the governorship primaries in Kogi, Adamawa and Sokoto. The meeting could not start on schedule because President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, House of Repre-

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

only those who work and live in the Villa, including the first and second families. Domestic animals will also have access to good health facilities. The improvement of facili-

ties, such as the “delivery room, dog training pitch, theatre, slaughter slab etc at the State House Veterinary Clinic, comprising vet laboratory at N4,499,262; provision of materials for the mounted section horse stable/accessories at

N5,550,400, will amount to N10,049,662. Details of the budget show that the “provision of water treatment plant and ancillary works for SHMC, including supply and installation of package water treatment plant to cater for 1,000

people”, will cost N 26,889, 041. The procurement of State House Veterinary Clinic equipment (x-rays machine, accessories and setting up of radiology secContinued on page 2

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun cutting the tape to inaugurate the state’s Security Trust Fund and Joint Military/ Police Task Force in Abeokuta … yesterday. Watching are (from left): Group Managing Director, First Bank Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun, chairman of the Fund, Col. Kayode Are and Managing Director, First City Monument Bank Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun. Story on page 9

Continued on page 2

•BRAND P15 •NATION SPORT P24 •SOCIETY P29 •POLITICS P45 •AGRIC P47


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.