As the effects of the fuel subsidy removal continue to bite harder in the country, analysts and residents of Enugu State have urged Governor Peter Mbah to rise up to the occasion and put in measures that will cushion the effect of the policy on the people.
Guests and public affairs analysts that participated in a popular radio programme; ‘Freedom Square’ anchored by Dr Uchenna Cyril Anioke on Solid 100.9 FM Enugu, called on the Governor to as a matter of urgency, revitalise the state owned Mass transit buses for conveyance of workers and other residents, which they said will help in cushioning the effects of the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Governor Mbah was equally tasked to clear all salary arrears owed to workers and parastatals in the state as well as the gratuities and pensions as a means of ensuring that the residents are empowered which will inturn increase their purchasing power and enhance cash flow in the system.
One of the analysts, Dr Obasi Obasi opined that the introduction of the buses will also help the government to win it’s current battle against Monday sit at home, stating that workers and other private sector business owners will be bold to join the government mass transit buses, from various points to their respective offices at a reduced cost.
His words: “The fact remains that most people especially the workers are not happy staying at home on Mondays, but the current situation might encourage them to abscond from work. Therefore, the re-introduction of the government owned mass transit buses will help the government to overcome the plaque of the sit-at-home.”
Dr. Obasi suggested a free transport scheme for workers on Mondays and at a reduced cost on other working days for both workers, traders and every other member of the society.
Another analyst, Comrade Chinedu Nwobodo, corroborated that the state government can still offset transport bills of the residents on private buses by going into partnership with owners and foot the accumulated bills of commuters thereafter, as will be submitted by the various transporters engaged by the government.
They tasked Governor Mbah to bring his wealth of experience garnered in the Oil and Gas sector to bear in growing the economy of Enugu, especially at this point in time the removal of fuel subsidy is imposing economic hardship on residents of the state.
According to them, another measure in this direction is to ensure prompt payment of salaries and wages of the workers, clearing all arrears of pension and gratuities etc to enhance the purchasing power of the citizens.
They pleaded with the state government to further intervene in subsidising the health care of the people.
They urged Governor Mbah to consider offsetting the cost of text books for pupils and students in the state, as part of his intervention in the education sector, as well as bankrolling the cost of enrolling for external exams (WAEC) for students who will be involved in the current academic session, as part of measures to cushion the ugly effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
They called on Governor Mbah to consider granting tax holidays to lower cadre of workers in the state.
The callers that participated in the programme described the fuel subsidy removal as “inflicted injury” on the masses by the Federal government.
In proffering solution that will remedy the situation, they said both the local government chairmen. traditional rulers and church leaders must get involved and be committed to ensuring that the poorest of the poor are captured in the social register for the proposed N8.000 palliative proposed by the Federal Government.
“This is the time for National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to move from state to state, local government to local government to capture the poor and needy. Religious leaders in the various Churches, Mosques and even leaders of traditional worshippers should be involved in identifying the poorest of the poor. Government at al levels must be prudent in choosing the very poor for the proposed N8,000 palliatives. It shouldn’t be business as usual and must not be given a political colouration.”
Many of the callers expressed doubt that the sharing of the palliatives will reach most of the targeted Nigerians, stating that government should have deployed such funds in revitalising the refineries, fighting insecurity scourge and development of functional industries.
