Fuel subsidy: Belgore committee begins sitting

The Federal Government Committee  established to dialogue with organized labour over the removal of  subsidy from petrol  commenced sitting in Abuja last Thursday.
The Committee  led by retired Justice Alfa Belgore held an exploratory meeting during which they agreed to address the cost of governance in the country  among other issues which affect the welfare of Nigerians.
Justice Belgore who disclosed that the Committee will continue with its deliberation next week also stated that the Minister of Finance , Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Madueke would be in attendance.

On his part Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, who spoke to journalists on the outcome of the inaugural meeting at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, members of the committee also  raised the issue of good governance.
The Governor added that since the protest over removal of subsidy had been called off, the committee  will have to take a critical look of the subsidy to ascertain the cost, consumption and others.
Said he: “I think both the Federal Government and the organized labour appreciate that since the  strike has been called off, a lot of issues have been raised not only by  labour but also by the public especially  on good governance.

“Issues of cost of governance ,  what is subsidy, how much is in it, who is responsible for what.”
All of those issues have not been resolved. And it is in the interest of the Nigerian nation that those issues are  resolved to the satisfaction of everybody.
“If we can find answers to all that, the oil  sector will be the better for it.  But right now, I think the issues  are far from complete and it will really be appreciated by people not just about price.”
Justice  Belgore, who is the chairman of the committee, commended the labour for exhibiting the highest level of maturity in dealing with national matters.

He said everybody has accepted that subsidy should be withdrawn but the areas of contention remain how and when the removal should be effected.
The committee said despite that the Federal Government has reduced the subsidy, talks are still ongoing to ascertain the statistics of the refineries operations and whether the refineries should be in private hands.
He added that the committee would ascertain the refineries operational capacity and how to raise their level of production.

Belgore said: “We want to look at the statistics of everything. What are  the refineries doing? Are they functioning fully?  If they are not, why and what is going to be done to make them function. Are there going to be more refineries in the country. Are the refineries going to remain with government? Is the private hand.”
Asked whether the committee discussed a new  price template for fuel, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) pRESA answered in the negative no.

“The first point we are realing talking about is this. Is there really a subsidy, if there is how much is the subsidy. How did they arrived at the amount of a litre of petrol. Is the template padded or not . How many million litres do we consume a day. How many do we import? Why is the current expenditure so high. Why are there so many leakages and wastage in government.
Continung, he said the NLC and the TUC will have to collate these fact and make them available in the next one week.