By Egena Sunday Ode
The National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday resolved that “the timing for the removal of subsidy should not be now,” but more consultations and discussions on the contentious matter should continue in collaboration with the incoming administration as well as states and other key stakeholders.
Briefing newsmen after their valedictory session in the state House, Abuja, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said “council agreed that the fuel subsidy must be removed earlier rather than later because it is not sustainable. We cannot afford it anymore. We have to do it in such a way that the impact of the subsidy is as much as possible, mitigated on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“So, this will require looking at alternatives to the post subsidy that needs to be planned for and subsequently put in place but also what needs to be done to support the people that would be most affected as a result of the removal.
“So, we will be working together with representatives of the state, we will have a plan that we will start working on putting the building blocks towards the eventual removal of the fuel subsidy.
“If I May remind the forum, that the budget for 2023 has provision for for subsidy only up to June 2023 and also the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has a provision that requires that all petroleum products must be deregulated 18 months after the effective date of the PMs removal and that period is also up to June 2023.”
The minister disclosed that federal government committee currently handling the issue of palliatives and other soothing balms to cushion the impact of subsidy removal would be expanded to accommodate other stakeholders.
She explained that the expanded committee which would advise government on the best way forward would take into confidence the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act as they relate to subsidy removal.
According to her also, the committee would be in a position to advise government on the appropriate time for the removal of the subsidy under the incoming adminstratin regardless of the PIA.
