… As FG appeals to Nigerians to be patient***

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Sunday threatened to withdraw its members if the current fuel scarcity persists across the country.

Mr Mohammad Yunusa, National Treasurer of TUC, said this in an interview with newsmen during the just concluded delegate conference of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGO).

Yunusa, who is also the immediate past President-General of the union, called on the Federal Government to identify and punish those that caused the fuel scarcity.

“We will soon direct workers to stop going to work if the challenge of fuel scarcity across the country persists for the next few days.

“The congress also demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari should swing into action by identifying and punishing those who caused the scarcity that has brought untold hardship upon Nigerians.

“The union’s position is very clear. Those who caused this scarcity should be identified and punished very well.

“The position of SSASCGOC … is workers should stop going to work until there is enough fuel to take them to work.

“This is the way to do it. We are waiting for our centre to respond to our position but our position in SSASCGOC is that there is no need to go to work and when there is regular supply, then we will start going to work, “he said.

Yunusa, while speaking on the current strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), called on the Federal Government to fulfill the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the union.

He noted that the major problem unionism had in Nigeria was a lack of constructive engagements with the government.

“Let’s look at the case of ASUU, they are talking about the agreement they entered with Federal Government many years back and up till now the government has not fulfilled it.

“Over the years because there is no constructive engagement, it is when you call out your members on strike that government will listen to you,” he said.

The union leader while commending the newly elected officials of SSASCGOC implored them to make workers welfare a priority.

The newsmen report the new elected executive members included Mr Surajudeen Alakija as its new President-General.

Others are Mr Suleman Aminu, elected as the Deputy President-General,  Mr Benjamin Olaka and Francisca Adedayo, emerged as the first and second vice presidents-general, respectively.

Also elected were Mr Mukthar Adikwu, National Treasurer, Mr Samuel Ajakaye, Internal Auditor, Ogechi James, the Public Relations Officer, while Ajayi Lateef, Yewande Cole and Jubril Isah emerged as the trustees of the association.

In the meantime, the Federal Government has sympathized with Nigerians over unforeseen hardship occasioned by scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and called for patience in finding lasting solutions to the problem.

Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, made the appeal on Sunday in a statement by his Senior Adviser (Media & Communications), Horatius Egua.

“In the last weeks, Nigerians have grappled with fuel scarcity not because of the absence of supply of products but due to inspection failure, which allowed adulterated products into the country.

“This is regrettable, and the Federal Government sympathizes with the citizenry over the unforeseen hardship, occasioned by the inevitable scarcity.

“Let me once again appeal to Nigerians to be patient with the government in finding lasting solutions to the crisis,” Sylva said.

He appreciated the NNPC for showing so much concern to the plight of Nigerians by coming forward with an apology.

“This is unprecedented and showed that we on the government side are not afraid to take responsibility,” he added.

The minister also said the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had been out on the streets, fuel stations to ensure that the situation normalise quickly.

According to him, we are beginning to see the fruits of their efforts.

“It is not a time to trade blames as is customary in Nigeria. It is, therefore, not a time to query anyone but a time to come together to salvage the plight of the average Nigerian.

“After the storm settles, there will be time enough to investigate and get to the bottom, so that this does not repeat itself.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s charge to all parties and agencies concerned is to work together to ensure that normalcy returns quickly.

“The Nigerian people deserve the best and the government is determined to set the country on the right path of petroleum products availability and sustainability,” Sylva said.

This, he said, was demonstrated in the award of the contracts for the rehabilitation of all our refineries and the acquisition of stake in the Dangote Refinery.