NLC threatens to stop oil production

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened that it would mobilise its members to stop oil production if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to stop the stealing of crude oil, especially by his cronies, as well as those in government.
The NLC regretted that at the moment, nearly 50 per cent of Nigeria's crude oil is stolen by a few Nigerians.
Its president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, warned that President Jonathan must act within a reasonable time, to check the illicit activities.
Omar, who spoke on the outcome of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC, said the congress had "warned that in the event that the president fails to act within a reasonabletime, it will take all the steps necessary, including mobilising its members to stop oil production."
Speaking on crude oil theft, he said "NEC acknowledges that illicitactivities in the form of occasional illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation have been familiar features of oil production in the Niger Delta, but wishes to reiterate that the same cannot be said to be the situation at the moment, as nearly 50 per cent of Nigeria's crude is stolen by the high and the mighty.
"NEC is outraged by this heinous crime and calls on the president to speedily take the necessary action(s) to stop this show of shame."
Omar condemned the rising incidence of corruption and government's attitude towards it, while calling for the employment of the necessary will and skill to combat corruption in all its ramifications.
The NLC boss also expressed worries about the inability of the judiciary to speedily dispense justice in the high profile corruption cases involving former governor of Delta State, James Ibori and former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of thedefunct Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola, who were convicted in the United Kingdom with the same set of evidence that Nigerian courts could not use to secure conviction.
He, however, commended the government for finally bowing to public pressure by commencing the trial of the fuel subsidy scam suspects, but condemned the selective trial.
He, therefore, called for prosecution of all the accused and warned against the frustration of the trial process in any way.
"NEC holds the view that with the facts of the subsidy fund in the open, government should commence the process of reviewing downward the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol)," he said.