By Chi Ibe

Today the Federal Government directed all federal civil servants to report and end the ongoing anti fuel subsidy strike that began on Monday 9 January, 2012. It also guaranteed that its controversial deregulation policy was here to stay, saying it would not revert the pump price of fuel from N141 to N65.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bello Sali, gave the directive in Abuja earlier today and assured workers that security officers had been deployed to the various government offices to ensure their security. He also announced that since transportation was grounded due to the strike, the various ministries, departments and agencies were to provide staff buses for the transportation of workers to and from work.

 The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, addressed State House reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja accusing Labour leaders of creating more pains for Nigerians with the ongoing general strike, mass rallies and public protests over the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy. “Deregulation is not an option arrived at in comfort or happiness. It was reviewed over a year. If Nigerians don’t want us to cripple the future of our children, deregulation is important and must stay,” he said.

The minister said although negotiations were ongoing between government and Labour, there was not going back on deregulation.