The President did not need to vacillate between opinions on the issue of removal of Fuel subsidy. Fuel subsidy has been one of the longest discussed policies of Governments. Read Full Article
I recall during former President Goodluck’s Presidency, he attempted a fuel subsidy removal but without being stern and resolute, he lost it to a more prepared civil society led by the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Streets were occupied, protesting what was referred to as an obnoxious decision.
The issue is: How has Fuel subsidy helped Nigeria?
What is Fuel subsidy in fact?
Fuel subsidy is simply the situation where Government picks a huge chunk of the costs of refined Fuel importations into Nigeria with a bid to make it a bit affordable to the end users.
How has it helped Nigeria?
Judging critically, though some have argued that Fuel subsidized by Government is an altruistic policy as it makes the cost less expensive to Nigerians. Is that truly the case?
From where is the subsidy money coming from?
What is the impact of such expenditure to other facets of our society~Education, Health, Economy, etc.
Have we not uncovered the stunning statics that the total amount deployed to Fuel subsidy monthly outweighs the total amount used to pay the salaries and emoluments of workers in the Federal civil Service each month?
Who are the racketeers in this business?
Very few Nigerian crude Capitalists, wasking in deep pockets at the peril of the larger mass of Nigerians.
Overtime, Fuel subsidy has been identified as an indispensable conduit pipe and albatross to our developments in infrastructure and job creation in Nigeria.
Worse still is that the Country borrows money from International lending facilities, with stringent conditions and terms, all to fund fuel subsidy.
How do we recoup the money to be able to payback our creditors?
So, fuel subsidy is the necessary evil that must be yanked off forthwith, for any Government wishing to succeed to operate well.
Some have argued that Mr. President’s action on fuel subsidy removal was spontaneous. That he should have consulted with stakeholders; that there should have been other measures to cushion the effects, put in place first before it is taken out.
Yes, largely plausible arguments they have. But, is it a good policy of Government, weighing it against the backdrop of other variables?
No one has affirmed.
I think the President by harping on what has no place in the budget of the country, effective July 1, displayed uncommon courage to take hard but right decisions.
Any leader who is fickle~minded to the extent that he/she is unable to step on annihilating toes, should better throw in the towel.
The Principal of eudaimonia stipulates that actions to be taken by a responsive and responsible leadership, must tend towards bringing the Greatest amount of Happiness to the Greatest number.
Are we not baffled that barely 24 hours after the President’s quip that “Fuel subsidy is gone”, Petroleum Marketers instantaneously created Artificial scarcity and those that managed to sell, took the price to the roof~tops?
What was new?
Did they import new products overnight?
You see the Shylock in Nigerian crude Capitalists?
I hold profoundly that Nigerians should support the new Administration to succeed. The decision to remove fuel subsidy by Mr. President, not minding when/how it was announced, is commendable.
What is expected is that the organised labour and responsible civil society groups should interface with the new Government, particularly the vision~carrier, to think up palliatives and mode of operations to cushion the effects. Threats to Strike and/or any form of civil disobedience is infantilist.
In sum, Fuel subsidy is like Hernia eating deep into the human body. The Doctor’s intervention by way of saving the one affected is surgical operation.
The Operation in itself brings excruciating pains on the patient but the end in view is overall good. Fuel subsidy removal aptly put, is a necessary evil.
We should encourage the overhauling of our Refineries, funding of Education, funding of power sector which will engander the enhancement of SME’s and create jobs, plough the looted purse to provision of other basic infrastructural needs of the citizenry not enriching a few mindless bourgeoisies. Continue Reading
