Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has taken out time to clarify the controversies trailing President Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidy.
Indeed, this fuel subsidy controversy did not begin today.
In fact, it could easily be traced back to May 29, 2023, when Tinubu assumed power.
That was the day everything changed.
“Fuel subsidy is gone”, Tinubu screamed.
Well, till date, the effect of that declaration still lingers.
Fuel Subsidy
While many people blame Tinubu for all that has befallen the country, Dogara has said that the president is not responsible for the fuel subsidy removal.
According to him, Tinubu simply made the announcement.
Dogara explained that there was no provision for fuel subsidy in the budget before Tinubu made the announcement.
He stated this on Friday during an appearance on Channels TV.
Also Read: Dangote’s Fuel Subsidy Comment: The Hidden Truth Nigerians Are Not Seeing
The former speaker opined that fuel subsidy removal was a good move for Nigeria despite the effect.
His words: “In this case, there was no provision for it, and anybody who told you Tinubu suspended it was just joking because how did he suspend payment that was not budgeted for in the first instance?
“There was no provision for subsidy in that budget and I am not aware of any amendment that took place to accommodate the payment of subsidy.
“The truth is that he (Tinubu) was not the one who removed the subsidy. But he did make that pronouncement.
“There was no provision for it in the budget and you know the budget is backed by the Constitution. If there’s no provision for it in the budget, then how do you pay for it?”
You see, Nigerians are yet to get a better understanding of this whole fuel subsidy removal by the government.
There are fears that the Federal government may still be paying the subsidy it claimed to have ended.
Atiku Abubakar, Bode Gorge, and other notable politicians have urged the Tinubu government to come clean with Nigerians on the issue of subsidy.
Recently, Aliko Dangote called on the FG to eliminate fuel subsidy.
Emerging developments like this only leave Nigerians with one question, is fuel subsidy really gone?
