The House of Representatives has called upon the Federal Government to extend assistance to Nigerian citizens in light of the hardships resulting from the elimination of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) during the Bola Tinubu administration.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, the House specifically urged the government to “promptly implement measures to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerian citizens.”
Furthermore, once established, the House assigned its Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity to ensure compliance with this resolution and provide a report within two weeks for further legislative action.
These resolutions were adopted unanimously following an urgent public motion titled “Immediate Need to Implement Measures Alleviating the Impact of Fuel Subsidy Removal on Nigerians.”
Sani Madaki, a member of the House who sponsored the motion, recounted how President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidies during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023.
Madaki highlighted that as a consequence of the subsidy removal, the official pump price of petrol surged from the initial N195 per liter to an alarming range of N480-N577 per liter, with variations across states.
He stated, “The House is concerned that the adjustment of fuel prices by over 200 percent has led to a significant increase in the prices of goods and services.
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“The House is also concerned that the sudden removal of fuel subsidy has caused distress among millions of Nigerians, as they struggle to cope not only with the high cost of petrol but also with the subsequent rise in the prices of goods and services.
“In response to the financial strain resulting from the subsidy removal on public workers, some proactive state governments have implemented temporary measures, such as reducing work days from five to three per week for state-employed workers, until sustainable palliative measures can be implemented.”
Madaki also mentioned that the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had recently suspended a planned strike in the hopes that the Federal Government would address the adverse effects of the subsidy removal on workers.
He further highlighted a presidential directive to establish palliative measures to alleviate the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.
“The House is concerned that the Federal Government has yet to provide palliative measures to alleviate the impact of subsidy removal on federal workers. Additionally, the House is troubled by the numerous protests that have occurred since the removal of the subsidy, with citizens accusing the government of insensitivity to their needs.
“The House recognizes the necessity of implementing measures to safeguard citizens’ rights and prioritize the provision of palliatives to address the challenges arising from fuel subsidy removal, thereby ensuring a more sustainable and inclusive economic framework for the benefit of Nigerians.”
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The plan to eliminate the suffering caused by this removal of subsidy should be made know to us and be implemented soon