Activate Mechanism To Cushion Effect Of Fuel Subsidy Removal – Reps Urge FG

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to immediately put in place mechanism to mitigate ongoing effects of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

This was parts of the resolution made by the House sequel to the adoption of a motion moved in the floor during plenary by Hon. Sani Madaki.

The House also noted that as a result of the subsidy removal, the official pump price of petrol skyrocketed from the initial N195 per litre to a whopping N480–N577 per litre as the prices varied between States.

The House recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had during his inaugural speech on 29th May 2023 ordered for the immediate removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

The House had also raised concerned that the implication of over 200 per cent price adjustment in fuel prices is that nearly all prices of goods and services have drastically increased, affecting many Nigerians especially the ordinary.

Law makers further expressed concerned that the sudden fuel subsidy removal has left millions of Nigerians terrified, thus causing untold hardship as Nigerians grapple with the challenges of meeting up with, not only the high cost of petrol but also the consequent increase in the prices of goods and services.

“The House is aware that in response to the resulting financial strain of the subsidy removal on public workers, some proactive State governments introduced temporary measures to alleviate the situation by reducing work days from five to three days per week for the State-employed workers pending when other sustainable palliatives can be provided”,

Lawmakers equally disclosed that the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had recently suspended a planned strike over the removal of fuel subsidy with the hopes that the Federal Government would address its adverse effects on workers adding that since, then nothing has been done.

“Further aware of a Presidential directive to put palliative measures in place to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.

“Worried that the Federal Government is yet to provide palliative measures to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal on Federal Government workers.

The House used the opportunity to expressed worries that since the removal of the subsidy, several protests have been recorded as citizens have repeatedly accused the federal government of being insensitive to their plight without positive measure to ameliorate them.

“The House also stressed the need to put in place measures to protect the rights of citizens and prioritize the provision of palliatives to mitigate the challenges that have arisen from the fuel subsidy removal and ensure a more sustainable and inclusive economic framework for the benefit of Nigerians;

Meanwhile the House has mandated the Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity to ensure immediate compliance and report back within two weeks for further legislative action on the matter.