Nigeria’s Senate President on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari had not directed anyone in his government to implement the removal of petroleum subsidy.
Lawan, who spoke with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said he was in the Villa to convey the feeling of his constituents on the planned fuel subsidy removal and other issues to the president.
However, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Tuesday expressed support for the federal government’s plan to end fuel subsidy payments in the country.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, had announced last October that the federal government made provision for petrol subsidy only for the first six months of 2022, as the government looked towards complete deregulation of the sector.
“In our 2022 budget, we only factored in subsidy for the first half of the year; the second half of the year, we are looking at complete deregulation of the sector, saving foreign exchange and potentially earning more from the oil and gas industry,” Ahmed had said.
“The federal legislators were worried about the different agitation and planned protests around the country”
But commenting on the issue, Lawan said the federal legislators were worried about the different agitation and planned protests around the country, necessitating the discussion with the president.
According to him, the subsidy cannot be transferred to citizens even as he expressed doubts on the 100 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) said to be consumed per day in the country.
The Senate President said he was glad to inform Nigerians that Buhari had not told anyone to remove petroleum subsidy.
He said: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I’ve come to discuss with Mr. President among several other things. Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations, protests, and many citizens were so concerned, our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy.
“And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us. And we’ve just finished our recess, we had gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts.
“And will felt the pulse of our people. And I found it necessary to visit Mr. President, as the the leader of our government and our leader in the country, to discuss this particular issue of concern to Nigerians, and I’m happy to inform Nigerians that Mr. President never told anyone that the petroleum subsidy should be removed.
“I know and I agree that the subsidy is very heavy. But I think we must never transfer the burden to the citizens.
SOURCE: voiceairmedia.com