Former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has said that President Bola Tinubu’s announcement regarding the removal of fuel subsidies, stating it was merely a joke.
Dogara stated this during a Friday appearance on Channels TV. He explained that Tinubu did not remove the subsidy as there was no provision for it in the budget approved by the National Assembly prior to his election.
He emphasized that Tinubu’s declaration that “subsidy is gone” lacked any supporting policy action.
“In this case, there was no provision for it. Anyone who claims he (Tinubu) suspended it was simply joking. How can he suspend a payment that was never budgeted in the first place?
There was no allocation for subsidy in the budget, and I am not aware of any amendment made to accommodate subsidy payments. The fact is that he (Tinubu) did not remove the subsidy, although he did make that pronouncement,” Dogara stated.
The former speaker acknowledged that while Nigerians are experiencing the repercussions of subsidy removal, it was a necessary step for the country’s advancement. He stressed that meaningful change requires sacrifices, urging Nigerians to focus on finding solutions rather than merely discussing problems.
He remarked, “In addressing this issue, we need to accept the truth, whether we like it or not, unless we are being disingenuous. Regardless of whether the President claimed the subsidy was removed or not, we all know that it was eliminated before he took office. The budget, which is grounded in constitutional law, did not include any provision for subsidy. So, how can we pay for something that isn’t in the budget?”
President Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, stating that there was no provision for it in the national budget from June 2023.
