Fuel hike: Lagos lawmaker urges dialogue, berates Melaye

Hon. Segun Olulade, the lawmaker representing Epe Constituency II, on Sunday urged the organised labour to dialogue with the Federal Government rather than engage in industrial action over the increase in the pump price of petrol.
Olulade, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, also berated Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west Senatorial district for threatening to lead a mass protest against President Muhammadu Buhari over removal of fuel subsidy to pave way for deregulation of the oil sector.
He said the protest will totally fail. The lawmaker who gave the advice in a statement signed by him in Lagos said that rather than protest, organised labour should discuss with the government so as not to put Nigerians through further suffering.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) should dialogue with the government rather than marching innocent workers out for a protest that can earn them no tangible outcome,” he said.
He also commended the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for showing understanding and support for the policy.
“I share the pains of Nigerians and labour force, but there is nothing reasonably viable than to deregulate the sector. This will save Nigerians the incessant and persistent agony of accessing petroleum products which are God- given resources to the Nigerian masses.

 Among all the oil exporting countries, Nigeria is the only country that still lives in the euphoria of oil sector regulation and as such, denying the nation of economic benefits accruable from the sector.
“From availability of the products to job creation and to huge oil sales revenue, the hardship is temporary and I am sure Nigerians will smile in no distant future,” he said.
He commended the patience and cooperation of Nigerians, stressing that the people deserved nothing but the best from their government.
The lawmaker said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would not let the people down, pleading for their endurance, patience and cooperation.
According to Olulade, Melaye’s threat holds no water and cannot be taken seriously by any right thinking person. He said Melaye is used to such game and lacks morality to take Nigerians to the street in protest.
“Melaye is used to such game and lacks morality to take Nigerians to the street in protest except the few political jobbers like him”.
“Dino is a political casino; he wants to gulp so much but emit little in deceit. He is also a political noise-maker who seeks relevance by raising voice over whatever does not go in his favour. He is free to decamp rather than acting up against the government of his party,” he said.