FG's Decision to Postpone Fuel Subsidy Removal is Linked to 2023 Elections, NBA President
- The removal of subsidy by the federal government in recent times has been faulted by organisations as well as prominent figures in the country
- The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)'s president Olumide Akpata, shared recently reasons that informed the federal government's decision regarding fuel subsidy removal
- According to Mr Akpata, FG's recent move is connected to the forthcoming general election as against its earlier claim on hardship in the land
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Reactions have continued to trail the postponement of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.
Recent is the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, had said the decision to postpone petrol subsidy removal is about the 2023 elections, The New Telegraph reports.
On Monday, the federal government announced that it has postponed the planned petrol subsidy removal till further notice due to high inflation and economic hardship.
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Speaking on Monday, January 24, in an interview with Channels Television, Akpata revealed the decision by the federal government is a temporary solution.
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He said:
“The subsidy issue is a hot potato for any government, particularly in this part of the world."
“Those kinds of hard decisions I don’t think are the kind of decisions you want to take going into an election. Those are my thoughts. I may be wrong.
“I’m persuaded that this is just a temporary solution pending when the political juggernauts come back from the field.”
Amid outcry by labour unions and other stakeholders in the country, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said the government was reconsidering its June deadline.
She stated that fuel subsidy was provided for in the 2022 budget to run from January till June, but after consultations with stakeholders and in view of the high inflation and economic hardship, additional provisions would be made beyond the initial period.
Senate President reveals Buhari's stance on removal of petrol subsidy
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Senate President Ahmed Lawan said Buhari did not direct anyone in his administration to implement the removal of petroleum subsidy.
Lawan said this after meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, January 18.
The Senate president said he told President Buhari about the feelings and concerns of his constituents on critical issues, including the proposed removal of subsidy.
Remove fuel subsidy, rejig economy before 2023
In related news, a religious group, Nigeria Christian Forum, (NCF), a coalition of Protestants and Catholic faithful have declared their support for the plans of the federal government to begin fuel subsidy removal.
According to the group, the initiative is one step the federal government must be courageous to take to salvage the nation from total collapse.
The NCF said there are indicators that are strong enough to show that, if the fuel subsidy which guzzles a whopping sum of N250 billion monthly was not removed now, Nigeria would have allowed itself affliction that would continue to have a devastating effect on its economy.
Source: Legit.ng
