THE presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Abubakar Atiku, yesterday challenged President Tinubu regarding what he perceives as misleading information being presented to the Nigerian public about the true status of petrol subsidy under the administration.
Atiku alleges that despite Tinubu’s public stance on the removal of petrol subsidy, the government has been covertly disbursing significant sums of money for this purpose, with projected subsidy payments potentially reaching N5.4 trillion this year.
In response, a statement was released today by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who reiterated the government’s position on fuel subsidy.
The statement emphasized that the era of fuel subsidy has indeed come to an end, refuting claims of a substantial budget allocation for subsidy payments in 2024.
The government maintains the stance declared by President Tinubu in May 2023 regarding the cessation of the fuel subsidy program.
Furthermore, the Presidency highlighted the commitment to easing the economic burden on citizens by addressing factors such as food inflation, influenced by transportation costs.
The administration’s focus on initiatives like the CNG program aims to reduce expenses related to PMS and AGO.
The government remains resolute in its decision to eliminate unproductive subsidies while ensuring support for vulnerable segments of the population.
Regarding two circulating fiscal policy documents, the Presidency clarified that one document purported to be an executive order signed by President Tinubu is still in the proposal stage.
The other document, a draft titled “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP),” received by President Tinubu, is yet to undergo official approval.
The presidency urged the public to disregard discussions surrounding these documents as they are still undergoing review and revision within the government’s highest levels before potentially becoming official policy statements.
