Skip to main content

Nigerians Will Celebrate Tinubu for Fuel Subsidy Removal — Reps Deputy Spokesman Agbese ...Urges Organised Labour to Give Dialogue a Chance

 




The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Dr Philip Agbese, has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu's removal of fuel subsidy is in their best interest. 


Agbese, the member representing Ado/ Okpokwu/ Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, spoke to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja. 


The lawmaker admitted that fuel subsidy has been a part of the nation since the 1970s, with the government routinely selling petrol to citizens at below cost to minimize the impact of rising global oil prices. 


However, he noted that the outlay of subsidizing petrol has ballooned over time, adding that the regime has made a few richer. 


Agbese said that available figures showed that the Buhari administration (2015 -2023) paid a subsidy of over N11.4 trillion, more than what the government spent on education, health, and infrastructure during the period under review.


While acknowledging that President Tinubu's decision to end the regime has come with hardship, he reckons that Nigerians will celebrate in the long run. 


According to him, fuel subsidy constitutes 50% of the nation's problem and its termination will usher the country to her glorious era in history.


He, however, urged Organised Labour not to succumb to agents of destabilization, assuring that the resources saved from the policy would be channelled to developmental programs. 


"President Tinubu must be commended for taking the bold step to save the future of our nation. Fuel subsidy was no longer attainable," he said. 


"It is on record that about N40.1 billion is spent daily to subsidize every liter of petrol consumed in Nigeria by at least N600. It means the government spends about N1.24 trillion on fuel subsidies monthly. 


"The country is in massive debt and would need more money to subsidize fuel. According to the World Bank, the government is projected to achieve fiscal savings of approximately two trillion naira ($2.6 billion) in 2023, equivalent to 0.9% of GDP. These savings are expected to reach over 11 trillion naira ($14.3bn) by the end of 2025.


"This will be invested in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Indeed, the advantages of the removal of subsidy would not just come up immediately. It is not possible because the economy is not strong. We don’t have money to start implementing measures that will ameliorate the removal of the subsidy. 


"However, we must look beyond the present. The future of our great nation is at stake. I want to commend President Tinubu for this brave decision.  In a matter of time, Nigerians will smile.


"Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to the Organised Labour not to succumb to agents of destabilization who want to pull us back. The issue of palliatives and better welfare for all citizens is paramount before the Asiwaju government. 


"Our nation can not withstand another mass action. We are trying to build not destroy. The Labour should, therefore, give dialogue a chance and at least be patient with this administration. It is still early days".

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Court Sets Aside Arrest, Remand, Wanted Declaration Against Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, has set aside its earlier ex-parte order authorizing the arrest, remand, and “wanted” declaration of Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, also known as Hammed Ajiran. The development follows the earlier declaration of Akanbi as wanted for alleged multiple murder by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Olorundare Jimoh, on February 19, 2026. However, in a ruling delivered today, Magistrate L.A. Owolabi of Magistrate Court 3 nullified the ex-parte order initially granted on February 16, 2026. In his decision, Magistrate Owolabi held that the order was obtained through the concealment of material facts. The court specifically noted that the counsel who filed and argued the application, Nosa Watson Uhumwangho, was under suspension by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee at the time and therefore lacked the right of audience before the court. The ruling sparked jubilation among members of the youth wing of the Ojomu royal family, who...
Post a Comment
Read more

How I Was Beaten Up By Boys In Canaanland, Ota, On The Orders Of An Italian- Man Laments

Mr. Victor, a welder from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, experienced a harrowing incident on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, while at work in Ota, Ogun State. While going about his daily duties at a construction company responsible for building the ark in Faith Tabernacle, also known as Winner's Chapel, Victor faced an unexpected altercation with his boss, an Italian man named Mr. Lucas. According to Victor, the altercation escalated when Mr. Lucas suddenly slapped him on the ear from behind, without any apparent provocation. Shocked by the unwarranted assault, Victor instinctively retaliated by delivering a slap in return.  However, the situation took a drastic turn when Mr. Lucas allegedly instructed some Nigerian boys to physically assault Victor in retaliation. Subsequently, Victor was subjected to a brutal beating by the group of assailants, resulting in severe injuries, including pores coming out of his ears. Since the incident, Victor has been struggling to recover both physical...
Post a Comment
Read more

TASA Strengthens Alliance With Lagos Student Leaders, Sets Campus Mobilization in Motion Ahead of 2027 General Election

The Tinubu–Ambode Support Associates (TASA) today Wednesday, December 4, 2025, convened a strategic stakeholders’ meeting with student union leaders from across Lagos State, reaffirming the critical role of young people in shaping the democratic direction of the state as preparations intensify toward the 2027 general elections.   The meeting, attended by representatives of 11 tertiary institutions under the coordinated leadership of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC), NANS Lagos Chapter, provided a robust platform for frank political discourse, progressive engagement, and actionable strategies for youth driven political mobilization.   TASA leadership briefed the students on the urgent necessity of active participation in governance, noting that voter apathy particularly among young people significantly affected the 2023 general elections. The association emphasized that the era of leaving political decisions solely in the hands of politicians must end, as such disengagement onl...
Post a Comment
Read more