ASUU STRIKES AND THE SUFFERING GRASSES

For some time now, I have been counting my graduation time in months, weeks and even into days but if the present reality is not sorted out, there is a likelihood of an extension of the time frame. At a time, the news filtered in that ASUU (Academic staff Union of Universities) was planning on going on strike, but we just allowed the news pass as a rumour. But the saying that “within every rumour there is a truth embedded “came to pass, as on the entrance into the month of July was greeted by flashing headlines in the media of the announcement of an indefinite strike by  ASUU.

            The ASUU national president, Isa Fagge informed journalists of the development at a news conference via telephone at the University of Lagos (Premium Times). The decision to have the strike was reached at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of ASUU held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.  The reason for the strike according to him was as a result of the inability of the federal government to implement some of the issues contained in a 2009 agreement it had with ASUU.

            Let me r- emphasise the contribution I stumbled upon on the internet “in the opinion of many Nigerian parents, guardians (especially those not rich enough to send their children abroad for tertiary education) and most importantly patient helpless Nigerian University students, the word “strike” has become synonymous with ASUU in recent times...the strikes on 2007, 2008, and 2009 are still very fresh in the minds of Nigerian students) – zahraddin Abdullahi , Director, standing  committee of Human rights and Peace(SCORP), Nigerian Medical students Association. Hence, though as troubling as it may sound, it is almost an “when is it going to happen” issue.

            As I read the words of Isa Fagge that the strike will be “Comprehensive, total, and indefinite” what came to my mind was the plight of fellow students like me who were going to be bearing the brunt of the whole saga. This means no supervision of project for final year students, no classes for students of any level, post graduate students will have their programmes put on hold, students would be left idle, plans have changed etc, with so many consequences that will come with this decision. One question continues to linger in my heart: is strike the only option? To ASUU what is the strike supposed to do, turn the hands of government officials that have most of their children studying outside Nigeria? To the government; must these teachers down their tools before they get your attention? Students what can we do in this situation because we are tired of always suffering the inefficiencies of the two elephants? All these questions are ones that if properly answered; matters will be put into proper perspective and solutions proffered.

            I logged on into my Facebook account this morning and this was the post of my friend: “Arsenal need to sing ASUU and Thunder in their striking force, that they are very good at striking”. Smiles of sadness and amusement filled my face as I read and digested that article garnished with the thought of how these strike actions have affected Nigerian leaders of tomorrow. The privileged few have chosen institutions in Ghana and recently Benin republic as escape routes to the strike prone government tertiary institutions, also private schools like Redeemers, covenant, Babcock, Afe Babalola University etc have enjoyed the patronage of those that want uninterrupted and quality education, with the capacity to provide it. But again, to what extent can a nation, whose educational system is beleaguered with strike, develop? Although the strike is one of the smallest problems affecting this sector, but its own consequences are obvious.

            The Academic and non – academic staff have gone on strike when their so called “rights” but who goes on strike when students are intimidated by their lecturers, who goes on strike when results are manipulated selfishly or as an act of wickedness, who goes on strike when students are made to learn under harsh conditions of learning (that even the people in authority now did not go through. Sometimes our lecturers tell us they had access to chicken, quality teachers, and comfortable hostels etc, have these things suddenly disappeared?), who downs tools when students are extorted of the little money they bring from home? The answers to the questions are left in your minds to answer. If we refuse to learn, we will suffer the consequences and even protests have a limit so that you can graduate well, who defends the right of a Nigerian student?

            Even with the sometimes, not favourable and low quality environment of learning, that we are managing, trying as much as possible as we can to survive, we still have to suffer strike also. Is this fair? I do not want to stand on the side of any of the elephant, because we are just the innocent grasses that suffer, hence supporting any will do us no good. But I will appeal to both sides to put the future of this nation at the back of their minds before we make decisions. Do you love this country, or you are just fighting to get your own share of the national cake. ASUU and the FG, God is looking at both of you oh, if these students decide to table the matter before God, every side will be affected, because God always brings Justice (sounding religious? Yes OH).

            In my bid to present the matters of the University student, let me also emphasise the fact that polytechnic students have been at home for two months because ASUP( Academic staff Union of Polytechnics ) has been on strike. Can you imagine two months of your life as a student out of school?  Is this fair for God sake? And from what I have observed, what forms a bulk of poly students, are people that tried getting into Universities and they couldn’t make it  and now you put them again into further mental and psychological stress. Again I ask who is fighting for the rights of the students. What is our gain in this strike? The good lecturers have always been good (allowance or no allowance), the bad lecturers remain bad (allowance or no allowance), so what is our gain apart from the suffering?

            To my fellow students let us continue to pray for this nation, things are going worse but it is only “Us” that can make it better.  Our generation is a generation of promise, with the mandate to turn things around for the better. If our fathers have failed us and are still failing us, let us take the bull by the horn to make things better. Let us survive this hardship with the best of mindsets, coming out to make things right so that the future generation does not go through the same predicament. The excuse has been that the thorns will always try to inhibit the growth of the crops, but not if the crops work together in unity and learn how to survive and blossom in the midst of the thorns. Can we make sure our children do not suffer the same fate? YES WE CAN.  Please let us shun examination malpractices, irrespective of the shortcomings of the system, let us do the right thing always, let us shun vices and conduct ourselves as worthy leaders in the making. For the time comes that as a city set on the hill, nobody will be able to hide you. Continue. Try as much as possible as you can to make good use of the strike period for personal development in all areas of your discipline, if the lecturers have down their tools , pick up the tools and let the work continue.

            To ASUU happy striking oh, it is our prayer that the government responds to your requests, so that my fellow students can go back to class. We have enjoyed a strike free period for some time and thought that matters like that no more existed, but since according to you, it is a painful but necessary decision, more grease to your elbow. I believe, if government does not answer you for months, the students too will not receive lectures for months and that is fair? Okay! Come to think of it, do they pay you people for the period you are on strike? If they do, God is still in heaven O and he is looking very well. Anyway some of the requests made sense, only one sounded very odd to me, some of you still want to lecture till 70? 65 years is not enough? Haba, why don’t you just retire at 65 and if you are agile to continue and you are contributing immensely to the University, you are given a contract. If all lecturers have to get to 70 before they retire, when the young will bloods begin to be injected to the system (it’s just a suggestion). Things are changing and the internet is transforming the world, Experience is essential and very important, but innovation and new imports drives any development. We don’t want to be attending our teachers burial while still in school, please we need you to serve and go and rest; we love you. And please if government did not answer you quick, please come back to the class because the investment you make by imparting Knowledge in class can pay you allowances that the government cannot afford. Hence think on the beautiful proceeds of your honourable profession and the innocent student and help us out. God bless you.

            To the government! “Our Ogas at the top”,   I pay homage to your honourable offices and I bring you greetings from the student environment, especially those who are going to be staying at home till you and ASUU resolve your problems. We appreciate the free time, probably the thought was that the students have been too stressed, let us just give them some time. Thank you sirs and Ma, but this is detrimental to our education. We need to graduate and start working so that we can join in taking this nation to this level, and strikes will not help the issue. If it is on the matter of Unemployment (probably if we graduate fast we will increase unemployment rate), do not worry, we are learning to be self sufficient now, with the heart to make this country better. Please see to the continuation of our academic calendar. I know that some of your people have their children in private schools or outside Nigeria, but please the bulk of Nigerians have their children in Federal institutions and it will not be fair to put us through this situation. Please help us so that we can help you back. I do not want some of my classmates or fellow students to start “Yahoo Yahoo” or get involved in some other vices during this free time and also, you people are trying, but please try more to help improve the conditions of learning. Please make our lecturers comfortable too, so that they can teach us well and also our parents so that they can send us pocket money and allowance. We will really appreciate more allocations to the educational sector; at least reduction in the cost of governance will provide enough money for this. I do not want to remember the amount I was hearing that some government officials were earning during the fuel subsidy protests, but we can just cut costs and divert the funds to several other important areas. If you people properly fund our schools, some of the things you pay for expertise abroad, we will be doing it. So please encourage research and every other aspect of our educations.

            Still to my “ Ogas at the TOP”,  students in the Arts and Humanities need scholarship too, almost all scholarship are for the sciences and Engineering and it has been discouraging quite a number of students, so as you look  into the ASUU matter. Look into this too.  Please sirs and Madams do not allow this strike stay for too long, we need to go back to class. Even though they are not so comfortable, but for the glory ahead we have decided to endure them.

            On the general, let all hands be on the deck for developmental issues as it affects this country. Let the strike stop and let the rights of the students be more protected. Nigeria, Good People, Great Nation.

WHO YOU KNOW” SYDROME

The sound of my country as the most populous black nation in the world, largest producer of Crude Oil in Africa, second largest deposit of Bitumen in the world, 2^nd largest exporter of Cocoa, largest exporter of Cassava and some many other encouraging pedigrees, paints the picture of a very economically and politically stable country. Also as at when Nigeria gained independence, we were foreseen to be one of the greatest countries amongst the former British colonies, but with the prevailing realities on ground, that projection is still a future to look up to. Growing cases of corruption in diverse forms, bad leadership, increase level of poverty, high mortality rates, and increased insecurity has bedevilled this nation, leaving the developmental pedal on a standstill or, to be a bit generous, a “snail speed”.

            The level of corruption in the nation is alarming as the canker has eaten deep into almost every facet of the nation’s fabric. Every day we hear different types of manipulation, embezzling and doctoring of accounts. Ethnicity and nepotism have beclouded the sense of reasoning, of choosing of leaders and different people for different positions. Nigeria is ranked 139 out of 176 countries in Transparency International 2012 perception index, tied with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan. The problems affecting this nation are numerous, ranging from corruption to bad leadership, ethnicity, to nepotism e.t.c., but the focus of this piece is on the “who you know” syndrome which can be tied to majority of the other problems facing this great nation.

            This issue of “who you know,” which could be expanded to include nepotism, tribalism, ethnicity and favouritism, is one of the major problems affecting this nation.  And my fear is that the younger generation are gradually being oriented to think that it is the way the society is meant to be. From top government officials giving appointments based on those with the longest leg (who know people), defrauding merit and character, to teachers giving better grades to students that are ‘closer’ to them instead of grading based on efforts, to elections, even, into religious offices, to universities not adhering to the set rules for admitting students, employing ethnic and religious bias in the process-some schools quickly come to mind). The matters arising from this concept or, should we term it practice, are so much, so numerous, that it is gradually becoming the norm; the right way looking like the wrong way; because when you do not participate, you are thought of as a fool. Hence, the ‘if you can’t beat them, you join them’ formula is running rent-free in our public lives.

            I beg to emphasise that a country that runs on this concept will never develop because, it, most times, will result in cases of round pegs in square holes in the corridors of power. The right people for the Job will not get it and the wrong people will not do it well; the consequence of it not done well spreads and that is the beginning of a damning end. To be very realistic, the prevailing situation in this nation fully supports the “who you know” syndrome but I will like to inform that the best way for things to be done is working and making decisions based on merit. Citizens of this nation should begin to work hard to get results and not always try to want to cut corners; students should read to pass and not know someone to pass; employment should be given to those that seek jobs based on merit and not bias; government should employ the right people for the right jobs; citizens of this nation should be ready to vote in the right person to do a job and not look at political aspirants from the eye of tribalism. The “who you know” syndrome has done more harm than good to this nation and its citizens and should be highly discouraged.

            However, it is one of those concepts that, when fuelled with positive energy, can be used to enhance growth, but it must go along with merit and equity. Dear Nigerians, let us strive to be the best we can be in every ramification of our endeavours and not rely on ‘Long leg’. Let us come together and make this nation great again; let the noise of our merits and abilities wake up the sleeping giant, teach the young ones to work hard and not look for short cuts....KICK  “WHO KNOW WHO SYNDROME” OUT OF NIGERIA

MAU(Moshood Abiola University): Another Sickening Decision by Gej

            Have you heard of "MAU"?if not,you maybe be wondering what that means. It means Moshood Abiola University,and end product of the Renaming of the prestigious University of Lagos by our "President"(trying hard not to use and adjective to qualify him).In a nationwide Broadcast to mark his 1 year in office,he capped it up with another "sickening and annoying" decision,something that has plagued the duration of his one year in office. It sometimes bothers me maybe he is not thinking right or he has the worst set of advicers. I have been looking for good reasons to count him as a good leader, and anytime I try to adjust,he displays his incompetence and lack of understanding of the Nigerian situation. Growing from the wrong timing of fuel subsidy removal,annoying palliative measure that are(were) barely felt,increasing insecurity and now this again!....haba,are you sure he is not sick or is he just having the wrongest of people surrounding him? Of all schools in Nigeria to tamper with,he chose UNILAG.
                  The name itself is household(international and National),considered traditional and with great meaning and symbolism attached to it. It might not neccessarily be a bad idea to immortalize Moshood Abiola by renaming a school,but not UNILAG!we have a polythecnic to his name already,a stadium and even a way.....what we should be doing to immortalize should not even be this again,but fruitous effort to ensure the survival and practice of true Democracy(which is lacking in our country). Sincerly,i do not know what section of the Nigerian society he wants to appeal to by this decision,But he has made the worst of decisions,it doesnt just click.
               It will take years to be readjusted to,the institution and the name does not Tally,it will affect the morale of students,the prestige of the school...like seriously,what was he thinking,Did he even think at all? Immortalize a True Nigerian Democrat(if he was) of Democracy by making concrete plans to stamp out corruption,giving Nigeria Light and water(the only nation divided into 3 by water,yet lacks drinkable water),proper and Efficient management of mineral resources(produces oil,yet import is what holds the economy) etc you might not be able to fully solve this issues but make a bold step that will keep your name in the mouths of many for time to come.(Mr president ,hope u Hear this) rather than taking a very "annoying decision"
               I sympathise with students of UNILAG,for the rashness of their president, and truly wish something is done to rescue them from this issue.Nigerians please continue to pray for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,sometimes when i measure his performance,i wish Yardua never died..cos he was better,presently he is the worst Democratically President In Nigeria(thats the way I see it oh).Please pray For our President ,that he begins to see the true problems of Nigeria and make efforts to solve them and not making unnceccassary Distraction or digression.

GET THINGS RIGHT

      Today on AIT,matters arising,Port Harcourt studio reported a group supporting Jonathan on the bases of tribe(Niger Delta). I do not want the reason for this protest to be misquoted. It is not about me being a Niger Deltan,a Hausa, a calabar, a Yoruba, or any other tribe. We are one Nigeria and we are looking beyond tribality and fighting to make the country great which will result in the all round development which will benefit all tribes. It is not about subsidy removal or the retaining of subsidy,but you do not tell us to suffer and make sacrifices when the so -called leaders are not doing so.Let me not go into the budget allocation for the leaders and the luxury they are basking in;because through out this protest ,that has been one of the major strength of the citizens on the street.

       My fellow citizens,we are trying to make sure things are done the right way in this country.Stop saying,it is for the future generation,which generation?it will provide more jobs,aw?when we had oil boom..more jobs no come..na now e go come,remember we still have d same people working in this ministries and civil societies oh,The petroleum bill that will lay down the procedures for the operation of the sector,either deregulated or underegulated,has not been passed and has been in the National assembly for about 3 years.The palliatives i have heard has in no way helped issues,because majority of the business(Small scale) make use of PMS and hence increase in the cost willl virtually affect everything and when things increase in Nigeria,it doesnt come down.It pains me when i hear,it is a suffering for just now and enjoyment later..where is the enjoyment coming from?they have not been able to manage the little one they have,what gives you the assurance that they can manage more money..please let us be realistic1

        Yes we might have to agree to fuel subsidy removal,but before then the system should have proved good business sense,trusthworthy,palliatives in place to reduce the pains of Nigerians at the time and then we will be ready to  accept subsidy removal.The removal of subsidy is because of importing of a resource that we have the raw material in abundance,hence  proper functioning of the refineries will make sure ther is no need for increase in price.Even the fact that petroluem is sold at higher price around us, is a great business opportunity..because if we can refine it in this country,we can supply it to those countries legitimately..providing more funds to facilitate develpment of the country.The youths shoul be ' the forefront of enforceing because,when your parents begin to manage under the  influence of the subsidy removal,it affects our pocket money,allowances,our school fees,amount we spend in upkeep in school..which can go a long way in affecting our  performances in school in a country where you get job only if you are excellent or know some1..what is now you plight.Do not be decieved by policies,we have come a long way,we now have youths that re educated and aware,hence you shouldnt be cheated again now!...haba! our awareness should help us in knowing the side to stay on.

     Oh Niger deltans! do not be misled into thinking people are against your son.your son is a good man,but he has surrounded himself with the wrongest collection of aides.Please people do not turn this into an ethnic war,must we ethnicize every political issue?But Nigerians are here to inform him through protests to know those wrong decisions he has made bcause of them and advise him on what to do.An adviser that tells you to remove subsidy on thr 1st of jan,that tells you to remove subsidy without palliatives first,that doesnt tell you  to answer the plight of masses after millions of people coming out to protest(are you waiting for Nigerian Harmatten-arab spring),Niger Deltans you are part of Nigeria and so handling corrption and this nation developing?every one of us will enjoy it.

I see incompentence and shortsightedness,when i hear commentators call subsidy an incentive to corruption!,is it only Nigeria that subsidizes?okay let us even agree..deregulation itself will also be an incentive because the sector will be open to all dick and harry with little or no control by the government..same business opportunity.abegi,let us face facts and do the right thing(s) and in the right order.removing subsidy does not in anyway affect corruption and thats why,our plea is not in subsidy removal but about  sanitizing the system and then the right poilicies can then be effectively implemented.leave subsidy the way it is...and any dailogue above 75 naira is not allowed..anything above that is not allowed.#occupy Nigeria#(most especially in your prayers). if you want to pay above it..pay the salary that comes with it. Below is a pics that shows the salary of countries with the correspondin pump price

LEAVE OUR SUBSIDY 2

The main problem of this nation is corruption and mismanagement of funds; not subsidy.The cry is that we want to be like the great economies in the world by deregulating and paying 14o Naira rite,okay i agree with you,here is a breakdown of some of those so -called economies,their pump price and the simultaneous minimum wage.

Fuel Price Per Ltr              MinWage.
1. Venezuela 3.61 .           N95,639
2. Kuwait 34.54               N161,461
3. S/Arabia 25.12             N99,237
4. Iran 102.05                  N86,585
6. Qatar 34.54              N101,250
7. UAE 78.18 -
8. Algeria 63.55             N55,957
9. Libya 26.69               N23,813
10. Iraq 59.66                N25,813
11. Naija 140-200          N18,000
 See the comparisms!..i believe we are so broke, and want to cut expenses so that soon we will be like USA,being an economic power is not by impoverishing the already poor, or by being an insensitive government that waits for the poor to sacrifice before they do.But they start,the sacrifice from themselves e.gSenators in the US earn about $6,000 dollars monthly and dats about what a university professor, or a director in a state dept, or a doctor wt 20yrs experience, or a teacher wt 25yrs experience earn too, but in Nigeria a senator earns 245million Naira per annum! Dats d salary of 25 vice chancellors, or 50 medical doctors, or 60 directors, or 500 schl teachers!The American President has only 2 aircraft, our president has 9 in his fleet and voted money recently to buy 1 more!.
# # The British prime Minister has only 2 official cars, our president has 23 in his pool and only recently voted 300m naira to buy 2 more bullet/bomb proof ones.# The US, almost d size of Africa with about 500million people have 24 ministers, and 32 govt parastatals and commisions, Nigeria has 42 cabinet ministers, and over 50 government parastatals! what are  they there for# The US, almost d size of Africa with about 500million people have 24 ministers, and 32 govt parastatals and commisions, Nigeria has 42 cabinet ministers, and over 50 government parastatals!wetin we dey use dem do?

     We don tire,fela durotoye ,explained and i see sense with him,a reckless government cannot turn around one day and say they want to manage# (paraphrasin]...Abeg,jonathan, deal with the issue at hand and leave fuel subsidy alone,deal with the erring cabals and do not let about 160 million people suffer for their sins.Deal with corruption,leakages, and luxurios cost of governance, and Nigeria will have enough to feed itself.You recently said,travels will be reduced to barest mininum,the term is relative cos m bearest minimum might be your worse.Cut salaries by 25%,how much is it before?it is those irrelevant allowances that are annoying.Please in case you do not know,Nigerians have "wisened up" what you will tell us 8years ago and we will swallow,this time..you will tell us and we will taste maybe it is good for our health before swallowing.

     Lives have been lost Mr.president,and if you do not want a NIGERIAN HARMATTAN on your hands,you better answer the masses.Because,the more people die,the more the protest get bloodier. And please protesters ,do it with wisdom;let everything be peaceful:wisdom is profitable to direct.If you are a police and you shoot on innocent protesters,you should Know God is above watching you,irrespective of the orders.He is ready to visit your iniquities upon your children children..so watch it!..please pray for Nigeria

LEAVE OUR SUBSIDY

                 With deep sadness in my heart, I tap the keys of my PC listening to AIT news, where 22 people were killed in a hotel in Adamawa state; it is important to note that the people killed were part of mourners that came to mourn a loved one. After that, a Deeper Life Bible church was attacked in Gombe state and 5 People were killed. This is a pure reflection of how insecure, the country has become, reprisal attacks has begun to occur as a  Muslim community in Delta state was attacked in Sapele  injuring about 50. Academic Staff Union of Universities is still on strike, shutting down the public owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the largest consumers of generators in the world, producing what they do not use for us; hence only those that can afford it enjoy Light and small scale organisations spend huge sums of their capital on Power. The list of the problems confronting the 6^th largest producer of oil in the world, The most populous black nation in the world and one of the most populous in the world is endless, and I Still strongly believe this country needs divine intervention.

                However the issues listed above is not the main reason for this write-up, but what I want to write on is the reigning gist in the country:” FUEL SUBSIDY”. Our dear president meted to the population one of the worst New Year gift in World History, something that Only God alone has been keeping this country from an occurrence of something that will beat Arab Spring. The president displayed the high sense of insensitivity, when he decided to implement this odd policy on the first day of the New Year, making people stranded in villages, hitting people with unexpected hardship from the beginning of the year. The policy itself started on the wrong foot, because through town hall meetings, the Nation was expecting something around April; that is even if we were to accept it oh!  And they surprised us on New Year day (Display of the beginning of deceit and corruption).

                Also, before we begin to display the hardships that the removal has caused already, let me first begin why Nigerians at all are not going to accept this for the main time. A  Common parlance says: Leaders lead by example  and the leadership of this nation has not in any way displayed this and so the talk of sacrifice, that the supporters of the policy has painted the media with is nowhere to be found when the leaders are not ready to do same. The Nigerian government is one of the most subsidized in the world, where political office holders do little or nothing with their own money, luxuriously enjoying the nation’s money without complaint and the one thing that the common man in the street enjoys, they want to remove it! No thanks. A government that is broke and cannot afford subsidy can afford subsidizing itself, paying to the level of wardrobe allowance for lawmakers, Government is broke but”; N184,000,000.00 to water the presidency’s garden this year, N1.2 billion to rehabilitate the State House inMarina;N608,700,000.00 to maintain n fuel cars in the
presidency alone this year. Computers n Scanners cost us N652, 983,600.00.00 for the presidency alone 2011; N1, 128, 640, 00.00 for Residential Furniture in d Presidency; we have over 50 ministers, Subsidy removal will cost each Nigerian, rich or poor, old or young, babies and virgins, etc N7,500/year directly . We will save almost $500million/year from cutting the salaries of just over 400 people (Lawmakers) We can save $115million/year from their salaries and still have our
Senators earn above Obama’s salary. We will save over $302million/year from their salaries and still have our House of Reps members earn Obama’s salary. Over 800,000.00/day for Presidency's refreshment; Presidency’s kitchen cost us N3million/day over N1.2billion/year; it cost us N8.6million to buy magazines and periodicals for the presidency; each Senator earns
$1.5million/year; the Presidency’s medical expenses cost tax payers over N2million/day. Imagine the staggering amount we’ll save from cutting the payoff figure-head ward councillors
in their thousands. If we halve the pay of Ambassadors, we will raise millions of dollars for capital
projects.” (SOURCE - Funke Treasure Durodola fanpage).  Listed above, is part of the expenditure of a government that claims that it is broke and will be like Greece if Subsidy is not removed. Not listed are the irrelevant travels of the Government officials with the best workers they can think of, the so –called security votes. And they sit down to complain of subsidy? Is this not getting annoying? They want to become like US and UK, are they ready to make sacrifices that the leaders of this nation made?” Can the occupiers of these lofty positions act in honour as Barack Obama did in 2010 when he got every member of his cabinet to take a pay cut, starting with himself? Within his first few days as British Prime Minister, David Cameron led the austerity cuts (upon his assumption) by cutting down his convoy to 2 cars and one outrider. The Members of Parliament in Britain are now only allowed 3rd class train tickets on official travel (as opposed to their traditional first class train ticket allowances). The Mayor of London now rides a bicycle to work. Leadership by example!!! – FELA Durotoye” Houses of senior government officials furnished yearly, do the citizens of the nation do that? You do not give us water to drink; we use petrol to fuel our generators to pump water to drink and you want to increase the price, hence increasing the price of water that is sold. There are no alternative sources of transport (nearest one to be built is in a year or 2, till then what), There is no light (electricity); almost all houses rely on generator to power their house (and you want to increase the price?),Sanusi claims it enriches the rich, let us say we buy it but it also gets to the poor; in his plight to make  the fuel subsidy look sensible, he threatens us with the case  of Greece and unknowingly outlines the failures of the government he represents :lack of control of territorial waters to stop stealing of petrol paid for by Nigerians to other countries, Irresponsibility of port officials which is supposed to have been dealt with by the govt, listing of companies benefiting without the govt  doing anything appreciable in bringing them to book etc. The government cannot allow about 160 million people to suffer for the sins of a few that the government have allowed to go scot free. It was very saddening for Sanusi to compare us with neighbouring countries selling at higher prices but lack the resources and population strength of Nigeria.

                Furthermore, an annoying occurrence was reported in the AIT network news of today, 6th of January,2012.  People were paid 1000 naira, to demonstrate as PRO- Government protesters. A sad story of exploitation, because I will not blame them. It is annoying enough that we are paying 65 naira and still they are thinking of increasing. As a government, we are the governed, the mandate is in our hands, the policy is for us and we do not want. We have meticulously analysed it and have seen that the government can do without the removal of subsidy, if our resources are carefully maintained; Our refineries are in good working condition, effective power to stimulate internal and local productions of our needs and employment of our needs, development of the maritime and agricultural sector, A standard educational system and wonderful transport system, if we are enjoying all these, if you remove subsidy we go understand.  Government has not done enough to make Nigerians trust them with their sweat, we do not trust them enough to make judicious use of the funds accrued; forget the committee set up, I concur with the words of Fela  Durotoye “wasteful leadership cannot make prudent investment”  prove to us that you are faithful and diligent in little, then Nigerians will be ready to sacrifice their sweat and blood for the future of their CHILDREN. If these have not been done, as it is evident enough, leave our Subsidy alone. Let me assume, government officials are reading this, ASUU is still on strike oh, if you have answered them already, you would have reduced the crowd of protesters because students would have been occupied in school(ANOTHER LAXITY);I am reminding you, in case you have forgotten and BOKO is stil BOKOING and shooting please handle them before you feed them with frustrated beings who are not in school and are suffering under  the hardship caused by your REMOVAL OF SUBSIDY....leave our subsidy alone.

                                                                                                                                

                                    OLUGBEMIRO OPEYEMI MICHAEL

A LETTER TO MR.PRESIDENT

Mr.President,compliment of the season.As a concerned Nigerian Kid that loves his nation so much and wouldnt want something like the Arab spring or anything that will affect national peace to happen.I want to tell you,something i think you know,that the citizens do not trust their government(very bad),your promises are counted as "here they go again,making promises they wont keep", anything about money,what comes to their minds is how much are these people going to embezzle again.
        When,i saw the candidiates for the April elections,the amount of people that believed in you for a new dawn  amazed me and i was almost choked my the "vote Goodluck Jonathan " people around me. But with the little time you have spent ,i am still caught in between the middle for maybe i should have supported them or my apathy was justified,with ASUU strike affecting the continuation of my schooling,Massacre by the Boko Haram brothers,national insecurity, high level of corruption etc.
        My main reasons for contacting you however, is on the matters of the removal of fuel subsidy.It will be highly inconsiderable for you to think of removing  subsidy at this time when tensions are high(as a result of insecurity) and people are barely managing to combine security and business.Your excuse is that it is becoming unbearable for the government to bear, but the questions to you are, the cost of running the government is "highly high",i read about the amount to be used in ASO ROCK for feeding alone ha!, aw do you think those that can afford daily meals will feel when you tell them you want to remove subsidy and increase subsidy that will result in increase in price of virtually everything, stationary for the vice president runs into millions(what kind of stationary are that), what effect is the security votes on the life of an average Nigerian,multiple foreign travels with little or no tangible effect on the average Nigerian,So much of high unemployment and people are managing ,still you want to increase their hardship, the subsidy comes from the cost of refining  crude outside Nigeria;the people cant see any of their refineries working at full capacities and is not looking like changing anytime soon,the list of obvious obstacles is endless,hence you have to understand that doing this you want to put your name on the hatred list of many for life and this defies you reason for being a leader,when the led hate their leader.
              The idea of removing subsidy might be the best for the nation,but   all these issues have to be settled, the people have to believe that they are not the only ones making sacrifices(cost of running govt should be reduced to the barest minimum). The people shouldnt be made to feel as if,running a government they are not feeling the impact yet is considered more important than a subsidy that to an extent affects their lives positively(even though you do not believe), by removing that to remove cost and leaving a government that is very expensive.
           Make sure we have a working refinery, and imports little or none. 150 Naira per litter is practically too expensive for the sixth largest producer of crude in the world and has no reserve.The other main problem is that the people do not trust the government to make proper and effective use of the funds accrued from subsidy removal but rather take it as another opportunity to have more funds to embezzle.when prices go up,they dont come down in NIGERIA you know! PROVE TO NIGERIANS THAT YOU ARE FAITHFUL IN LITTLE, AND THEY WILL GLADLY MAKE SACRIFICES TO GIVE YOU MORE TO WORK WITH