ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, NNPCL, has strongly criticised the President Bola Tinubu‘s decision to remove the fuel subsidy.
Expressing their stance in a statement delivered to The Trent by email on Sunday, June 4, 2023, signed by Dr Sofiri Starson Peterside Jnr., National President, and Dr Enobong Akpan, Secretary General.
The association claimed the abrupt increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced on May 29, 2023, shocked Nigerian citizens.
READ FULL STATEMENT: NNPCL ON FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL
It described the effect of this decision on the country’s struggling economy as “catastrophic,” based on reports from its members and clients across the country.
According to the association, the subsidy removal was hasty, lacking proper consultation and effective planning.
The group called out the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for operating in secrecy and criticized the Federal Government’s decision as “ill-timed” given the economy’s fragile state.
The statement also highlighted numerous issues, including non-functional refineries, crude oil theft, lack of proper accountability, and deep-seated corruption in the subsidy scheme. It contended that Nigerian citizens are paying the price for political and economic mismanagement of the subsidy scheme.
The association further claimed that the sudden price increase has adversely affected all critical sectors of the economy, including transport, power, and health, worsening poverty and increasing morbidity and mortality rates.
Among its resolutions, the association aligned with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and called on the Federal Government to suspend the removal of the fuel subsidy and revert to the old pump price. It also urged the government to revamp the country’s refineries, stop crude oil theft, secure borders, audit the subsidy regime, strengthen healthcare financing, and reduce borrowing.
The NNPCL concluded by urging the Tinubu-led administration to demonstrate empathy and take necessary steps to alleviate the sufferings of the Nigerian people.
