Tinubu Commended For Removal of Subsidy

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to prioritize the provision of palliatives to lessen difficulties brought on by the elimination of gasoline subsidies.

Elder statesman and South-South Leader Chief Edwin Clark made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.

Recall that President Tinubu in his inaugural speech on May 29, had said fuel subsidy is gone which made the product relatively scarce, and also led to the increase in pump price from N194 to over N500 with variations in most states.

Clark however commended the president on the removal of subsidy stressing that the government had taken a bold step in doing the right thing.

“They have done the right thing. After all, all the candidates before the 2023 general election had advocated and promised to remove fuel subsidy.

“Everybody regarded it as a scam; it does not exist. Where are these faceless people we are paying the oil subsidy to, how has it benefited the ordinary man in Nigeria?

“Remember in January 2012, the Jonathan-led administration attempted to remove it, but the very people and leaders who opposed it at that time have now turned round to say yes it must go,” said Clark.

“Some people believe that since Tinubu was talking about subsidy removal during his campaign and also in his manifesto, he should have strategised how to provide the palliative to cushion the effect,” he said.,

According to Clark, government employees are aware that subsidies for petrol have never been in their best interests. He also said it is untenable to spend trillions of naira on fuel subsidies.

According to the South-South leader, life will be considerably better if the subsidies are used to improve the country’s transportation, education, and health sectors. “We will have a better Nigeria,” he continued.

“Now that a committee has been set up, where all parties will be involved, they should work it out.”