WHY should diesel be deregulated over the years and not petrol' In most industrial countries, diesel is rather preferentially subsidised because it is the fuel for almost all industrial activities. It is used for mass transit, for industrial and agricultural tractors, for locomotives, for ships, for power generation, just name it! Why must we then spend trillions of naira to subsidize petrol that is used mainly for pleasure cars. Let us have a rethink.I welcome the strike in principle but it should be a strike against the corruption that created the problem in the first place. All those who enriched themselves corruptly should be prosecuted and forced to pay back.Since, according to Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, about 80 per cent of the budget is used to service the huge government apparatus, salaries, allowances among others, including for the legislators, the strike should be aimed at cutting these excesses. That politics has become a matter of 'Do or Die,' because of the limitless pay-back packages awaiting the players in the game. The transformation agenda of Mr. President should focus on creating jobs, encouraging manufacturing sector, developing our infra-structure, and emphasise on reward for hard work at all levels. Political rewards should not be too attractive to ensure that only good motivated and sincerely committed individuals are attracted to it.Now that we are on the subject of petroleum, I have always suggested that since we have an abundance of crude oil and natural gas, we should focus our educational curriculum on the teaching of subjects relating to these two God given gifts, so that we can produce experts at all levels to develop and harness these resources more efficiently as it is being done presently. This will entail building more refineries and petrochemical complexes to enable us export higher grade products than mere raw crude oil and natural gas. Value must be added!Dr. Obi, the Omeokachie of Nnewi, Anambra State, is the Chairman of Association of Plastic Manufacturers in Nigeria and long serving council member of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
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