ABUJA, Nigeria — The House of Representatives has shown support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, an announcement he made during his inaugural speech.
On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in response to a motion of urgent public importance brought by representative Jimoh Olajide, the House urged Nigerians to show patience and maintain faith in the President’s ability to fulfil his promises.
President Tinubu, during his inauguration at Eagle Square in Abuja, declared an end to the era of fuel subsidy payments, stating that the 2023 Budget made no provision for such subsidies, which he described as no longer justifiable.
He pledged that government funds previously allocated to fuel subsidies would be redirected towards infrastructure and other economic strengthening initiatives.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has echoed President Tinubu’s position on the removal of fuel subsidies.
However, this move has sparked contention from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), which maintains that a decision on subsidy removal cannot be made unilaterally by the President.
The TUC pointed out that the preceding administration under President Muhammadu Buhari had left the “sensitive issue” for the incoming government due to its complexity.
In the wake of the presidential announcement, fuel queues have reappeared across the country as Nigerians scramble to procure the now unsubsidised product.
