Politics
THE FCT Directorate of National Orientation Agency (NOA), has solicited the collaboration of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT council to sensitize Nigerians on the fuel subsidy removal.
The Acting Director, FCT NOA, Mrs Ijeoma Agbanusi, made the call during a visit to the NUJ FCT council office on Friday in Abuja.
Agbanusi said that it was the agency`s mandate to sensitize Nigerians on government policies and programmes, adding that Nigerians should learn to accept the deregulation of the downstream sector.
She said the collaboration with the NUJ required that the union increase its unrelenting support, to help disseminate the information to the citizens for better understanding of fuel subsidy removal.
The acting director said the fuel subsidy removal has enormous benefits in the long run.
She listed some of the benefits to include, putting a stop to the difficult challenges caused by smuggling of Nigeria’s PMS to neighbouring countries.
“It will curb the greed for higher profits and sabotage by a few players in the oil industry, which positively affect the economy.
“Subsidy removal will force down prices and control inflation as well as help government to spend greater portion of its budget meant for fuel subsidy directly on other key sectors.
“Based on the above enumerated benefits, we are appealing to Nigerians to be patient with the present government in her efforts to stabilize the economy,’’ she said.
Agbanusi called on Nigerians to cooperate with the government in the on-going adjustments on various sectors of the economy.
She urged to be vanguards and watchdogs over national infrastructural facilities and natural resources.
Responding on behalf of the council, Mr Ochiaka Ugwu, Secretary of NUJ FCT, pledged the council’s willingness to work with the agency.
Ugwu said the fuel subsidy removal had brought untold hardship to Nigerians, adding that the government needed urgent measures to cushion the effects.
The council`s scribe said the role of NOA was critical in mobilizing and creating enlightenment for the Nigerian populace to understand government policies and programme.
“As a council, we will always be ready to collaborate in any area to inform Nigerians adequately because it is our duty as the fourth estate of the realm.
“We will also be ready to hold government accountable on its promises whenever it is necessary.(NAN)
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Tags: Mr Ochiaka Ugwu Mrs Ijeoma Agbanusi
