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Tag: Fuel subsidy removal

  • Fuel Subsidy Removal: Kogi NLC Joins Protest, Laments Over Hardship On Citizenry

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Organised Labour in Kogi state on Wednesday joined the Nationwide peaceful protest as directed by the national secretariat of the organised Labour.

    The group lamented the high cost of living as a result of removal of fuel subsidy and called on the federal government to reverse all it’s anti-people policies that poses hardship on Nigerians.

    The call was contained in a protest letter by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress led by Comrade Joe Ajero.

    Kogi State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Gabriel Amari who read the letter and handed it over to governor Yahaya Bello, said the recent removal of fuel subsidy without commensurate palliatives for the masses has caused untold hardship on the masses.

    According to him, the federal and state government should expedite action in ameliorating the pain and suffering of Nigerians before it get out of hand, stressing that the recent increase in fuel pump price has affected all sectors of the economy.

    Comrade Amari said the peaceful protest was sequel to the directive by the National secretariat of the Organised Labour to expresses the displeasure of the Union on behalf of Nigerians to the Federal Government.

    He listed other demands of the Union to include the immediate implementation of the resolution reached and signed between Government and Committee set up by the labour which are: “Immediate reversal of the increase in fuel pump price, urgent revival of the nation’s local refineries, and fees at unity schools across the nation and payment of outstanding eight month salary Arrears of University lectures”

    In his remark after receiving the letter , Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, appealed for patience, assuring that measures are being put in place to address the matter, noting that government feel the pains of the masses occasioned by recent development in the country.

    He commended the organized Labour in Kogi State for the peaceful conduct of the protest which kick started from Ganaja junction and terminated at Lugard house, Lokoja.

  • Tinubu Instructs NEC To Focus On Palliatives For Subsidy Removal

    Tinubu Instructs NEC To Focus On Palliatives For Subsidy Removal

    President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Economic Council, NEC, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, to begin the process of working on interventions to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on the people.

    The President’s directive came on a day governors of the 36 states of the federation threw their weights behind the removal of petrol subsidy

    This is even as major oil marketers yesterday donated 100 mass transit buses worth N10 billion to the federal government to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

    The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, stated this after leading some major oil marketers on a courtesy call on President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

    Briefing State House correspondents after the courtesy visit, the governor said the marketers were in the presidential villa to express solidarity with the president for his bold decision to end subsidy payment.

    He noted that Tinubu’s action showed his determination and courage to remove the hermorrhage that had bedeviled the country for decades.
    He said the country was spending about N4 trillion annually on subsidies, which should, henceforth, be taken to the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, for sharing among three tiers of government.

    The governor said while there would be some discomfort on the part of the people, the move would eventually pay off as there could be no gains without pain.

    Dame Winifred Akpani, Chairman of DAPPMAN, said the courtesy visit was to express the major oil marketers’ utmost support to the federal government.

    She said they were aware of the difficulties the subsidy removal had created in the country, expressing optimism that it was going to reposition the country.

    Dame Akpani noted that Nigeria in the first three months of 2023, had spent over N2 trillion, adding that if it continued with the payment, the amount might spike to N7 trillion at the end of the year.

    She said through subsidy, Nigeria had been feeding her neighbouring countries, adding that it could no longer subsidise fuel for African countries, while its economy continued to bleed.

    The marketers announced their intention to donate 50 to 100 mass transit buses to help the success of the initiative, hoping that other well-meaning corporate bodies would do the same.

  • NGF Supports Tinubu’s Stance On Subsidy Removal

    NGF Supports Tinubu’s Stance On Subsidy Removal

    State governors on Wednesday expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidy payments in the country.

    According to a statement on Wednesday by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information to the President, this was the outcome of a meeting between Tinubu and members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, at the State House.

    President Tinubu called on the governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in tackling the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment was unacceptable.

    The President advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings and pains of the people.

    “We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary; it is from society. Our position is to eliminate poverty. Set aside partisan politics; we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,” he said.

    President Tinubu stated that the nation should be seen as one big family.

    “We are a family occupying one house and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering results,” he added.

    The president said good governance would safeguard the future of democracy.

    “Present in this room is our diversity in culture and politics, but we are one nation. The unity and stability of the country rest upon us.

    “We are in a democracy, and we have to nurture the democracy. It is a hard-earned system and not easy to manage. If anyone thinks it is easy, look at other nations over a hundred years in democracy.

    “We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,” President Tinubu told the governors while assuring them he would maintain an open-door policy.

    The President said he was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that will improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “What do we do in the face of crushing poverty? What do we do with our development goals? We took the bull by the horns by removing the elephant in the room before the nation sank.

    “We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanise the economy and put resources in place? We must think and perform. After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,” he noted.

    President Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and destitution.

    “How do we address the unacceptable level of poverty? How much are we investing in education, the only tool against poverty? I am ready to collaborate with you,” he said.

    The President also drew attention to the security problems in some states, admonishing the governors that all efforts should be put in place to tackle the security situation without thinking it’s only for those facing it.

    The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRasaq, thanked the President for the invitation to deliberate on the challenges of poverty and security, promising that the governors would support the Federal Government in meeting human development targets.

    “The NGF will follow the tradition of working constitutionally and harmoniously with you,” he said.

  • Fuel subsidy removal: No decision yet, deliberations still ongoing — NEC

    Fuel subsidy removal: No decision yet, deliberations still ongoing — NEC

    The National Economic Council, NEC, says it has yet to take a decision on the issue of fuel subsidy removal as deliberations are still ongoing.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo fielded questions from State House correspondents after the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to the governor, NEC has been deliberating on the issue of fuel subsidy for more than a year.

    “There was an ad hoc committee set up by NEC and headed by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai that included members of the executive arm of government and worked on recommendations as to what we should do about the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) locally.

    “Because as you realise, as it has been told us, the cost of PMS in Nigeria today is about N162 for a litre whereas every other country surrounding Nigeria is selling the product at more than 100 per cent of the cost in Nigeria.

    “The country, as at last year, spent in excess of …; we must have the exact figures — but we must have spent almost N2 trillion subsidising petroleum products.

    “That is money that could have gone into building roads; money that could have gone into healthcare and education.

    “So, for NEC, the argument has been put out; should we continue this regime of spending money that we do not have to subsidise the living standard of mostly those who have vehicles.’’

    He said that when NEC looked at some of the analysis last year, it realised that less than one-third of the states of the country consumed two-third of the subsidy.

    According to him, the issue of equity also comes up.

    “All of these findings were presented to NEC and NEC has deliberations still ongoing.

    “So, NEC has not come up with any decision yet and I think has also been made to the president,’’ he said.

    On his part, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said Nigerians ought to know about the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, as the NNPC had become a limited liability company.

    According to him, the NNPC will run differently henceforth.

    “So, if the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning provides for six months, you probably can understand part of the reason for the provision of six months before NNPC takes off.

    “At that moment, that is when decision will be made. But I want to make the correction that it is not governors who are making the recommendations.

    “It is actually a NEC committee that is looking at this and no decision has been made; probably a decision will be made; the PIA would have taken charge and it would not require any recommendation from anybody,’’ Sule said.