THE
Federal Government has no immediate plan to remove petroleum subsidy contrary
to the perception of Nigerians arising from President Goodluck Jonathan recent
remarks on the matter.
Federal Government has no immediate plan to remove petroleum subsidy contrary
to the perception of Nigerians arising from President Goodluck Jonathan recent
remarks on the matter.
Giving this new position was the Senior
Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who assured
in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that the president was mindful of the
feelings of Nigerians concerning the withdrawal of subsidy.
Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who assured
in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that the president was mindful of the
feelings of Nigerians concerning the withdrawal of subsidy.
The presidential aide noted that despite
Jonathan’s recent remark concerning subsidy, “the administration, as a matter
of policy, had no plans in that direction.”
Jonathan’s recent remark concerning subsidy, “the administration, as a matter
of policy, had no plans in that direction.”
Okupe said that the President was mindful
of the reactions and plight of the Nigerian people as he maintained that
sufficient allocation for fuel subsid has already been made in the 2013 budget
and “therefore there is no cause for alarm on removal of fuel subsidy.”
of the reactions and plight of the Nigerian people as he maintained that
sufficient allocation for fuel subsid has already been made in the 2013 budget
and “therefore there is no cause for alarm on removal of fuel subsidy.”
Recalling the president’s remark made at
the Economic Summit in Lagos, which generated fresh fears on possible subsidy
withdrawal, Okupe described it a “a frank, intellectual and
well-articulated contribution by the President to the discussion on the
Nigerian Economy at the said Summit, and it was from a honest and sincere
leadership perspective.”
the Economic Summit in Lagos, which generated fresh fears on possible subsidy
withdrawal, Okupe described it a “a frank, intellectual and
well-articulated contribution by the President to the discussion on the
Nigerian Economy at the said Summit, and it was from a honest and sincere
leadership perspective.”
According to Okupe “The President and this
administration are not insensitive to the plights of the Nigerian Masses and
will continue to pursue and execute policies and programmes that are in the
overall interest of majority of Nigerians and that will bring the greatest good
to the greatest number of our teeming population.”
administration are not insensitive to the plights of the Nigerian Masses and
will continue to pursue and execute policies and programmes that are in the
overall interest of majority of Nigerians and that will bring the greatest good
to the greatest number of our teeming population.”
The presidential aide was of he opinion
that “It is an undeniable fact that every responsible leadership, genuine
stakeholder and patriot must be worried when a Nation spends about
N1trillion, an equivalent of about 20% of the National Budget, on subsidy paid
out to a few Companies and enjoyed in the main by very few elites, while the
common man benefits only minimally.”
that “It is an undeniable fact that every responsible leadership, genuine
stakeholder and patriot must be worried when a Nation spends about
N1trillion, an equivalent of about 20% of the National Budget, on subsidy paid
out to a few Companies and enjoyed in the main by very few elites, while the
common man benefits only minimally.”
He added: “Contrary to the speculation in
the media and assumption by certain groups within the polity, we wish to state
categorically that, the removal of oil subsidy is not on the table of the
Transformation Agenda of the President.
the media and assumption by certain groups within the polity, we wish to state
categorically that, the removal of oil subsidy is not on the table of the
Transformation Agenda of the President.
“The statement made by President Goodluck
Jonathan at the recent Economic Summit held in Lagos was a frank, intellectual
and well articulated contribution by the President to the discussion on the
Nigerian Economy at the said Summit, and it was from a honest and sincere
leadership perspective.”
Jonathan at the recent Economic Summit held in Lagos was a frank, intellectual
and well articulated contribution by the President to the discussion on the
Nigerian Economy at the said Summit, and it was from a honest and sincere
leadership perspective.”
“Finally, for the avoidance of doubt and at
the risk of being repetitive, this administration is not considering the issue
of removal of fuel subsidy in the nearest future and certainly will not embark
on any such programme without extensive consultations and engagements across
the various segments, interests and stakeholders in the Nigerian polity.”
the risk of being repetitive, this administration is not considering the issue
of removal of fuel subsidy in the nearest future and certainly will not embark
on any such programme without extensive consultations and engagements across
the various segments, interests and stakeholders in the Nigerian polity.”
Source: Sun
