The federal government has been advised to use the proposed N500b palliatives meant to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal to revamp the four moribund refineries in the country instead as a better alternative policy.
The Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for Igwuruta Internal Roads project who also double as the Security Committee chairman, Hon Ken Amadi gave the advice in an interview with newsmen over the weekend in Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State during the Igwuruta Security Summit organized by the Police Area Commander, ACP Zakari Shuabu to proffer solution to the increasing criminality in the area.
Hon. Amadi reasoned that the N8,000 (eight thousand naira) the FG proposed for about 12 million vulnerable households is not tenable and would ultimately end up linning up some private pockets.
According to him, “the true palliative will come when the Refineries are refurbished and the country starts refining the abundant natural resources which will eventually push down the fuel pump price and reduce the hyper inflation in the land,” he said.
Hon. Amadi did not also agree with the N300,000 minimum wage the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is proposing for the Nigerian Workers, arguing that the proposal is not going to help the economy as inflation will also skyrocket.
He equally opined that there was the need for the FG in conjunction with the states governments to open up rural roads to further bring down transport fare.
The Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman also used the opportunity to commend the state Commissioner of police, CP Emeka Nwonyi for all his achievements within a very short period of his stay in the state and promised that they will give him all the necessary support to sanitize the state of criminal elements.
Hon. Amadi equally commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the free bus initiative meant to also cushion the pains of the fuel subsidy removal but appealed to him to ensure that more of the buses are purchased and made available to the Local Government Areas for more impact.
He also suggested that a little token should be charged for the services in order to sustain the good initiatives.
Hon. Amadi was particularly elated over the Fubara initiatives to embark on the Port Harcourt Ring Road project which he described as landmark. He however, pointed out that the project will not only provide job opportunity for the youths but will enhance connectivity and accessibility within the state and beyond.
He used the chance to appeal to every well meaning residents of the state to support the Fubara administration which he noted is ready and willing to surpass the achievements of its predecessors.
The CLO also appealed to the state government to give priority attention to Human Capital Development as according to him anything that will put food on the people’s table is welcome, noting that there is much poverty in the land and the people are hungry and suffering.
