Subsidy Removal: Tinubu Directs NEC To Work On Palliatives

– Govs Again back Tinubu on policy

• – Major marketers support President’s initiative with 100 buses

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Vanguard News

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 subsidy, 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 pains.

Dame Winifred Akpani, Chairman 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 N7trillion 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 same.

Govs back Tinubu on subsidy removal

Meanwhile, governors yesterday expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidy payments in the country and other early policy initiatives of the administration.

The governors, acting under the aegis of Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, expressed their support during the first meeting the President was having with them at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The state chief executives, who took turns to speak at the meeting, led by NGF Chairman and governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, expressed happiness with the President’s subsidy removal decision, and his all-inclusive leadership and statesmanship.

They congratulated President Tinubu for tackling the fuel subsidy behemoth, promising to work with him to ameliorate the short-term impact of the decision.

Tinubu had earlier 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.

He advised 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 the society. Our position is to eliminate poverty. Set aside partisan politics, we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,’’ he said.

Tinubu, who insisted that the nation be seen as one big family, added:  “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 on results.”

While noting that good governance would safeguard the future of democracy, the President said further:  “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 who are 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.”

He assured the governors that he would maintain an open-door policy.

President Tinubu said he was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that would 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 sinks.”

“We need synergy to fight other vices such as corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize 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.

He said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury.

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

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 situation, without thinking it’s only for those facing it.

In his response, 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 the targets of human development.

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

The meeting, which was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, had 22 governors and two deputy governors from Edo and Niger states, in attendance.

The governors made suggestions highlighting the plight of citizens in their states, assuring the President of their support in proffering solutions through the National Economic Council, NEC.