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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has charged President Bola Tinubu to use the remaining eight months of his administration to ease the economic burden on Nigerians.
Atiku, who stated this, at a press briefing, on Friday, in Abuja, said Nigerians have been living with the consequences of fuel subsidy removal by President Tinubu, on May 29, 2023, without adequate protection for families, workers, farmers and businesses during the transition.
According to him, for over three years, the burden of high petrol price on Nigerians has moved the petrol station to the bus stop down to family dining table.
Atiku, who is also a former Vice President noted that when petrol becomes expensive, it affects the price of transportation, food items, as well as other business logistics and energy.
The ADC candidate recalled that when he first argued that the Federal Government should review its review its approach to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and explore responsible intervention to bring down the cost of petrol, President Tinubu dismissed his proposal, saying it shows “serious ignorance” of governance and the economy.
According to him, “events since then have raised a simple question. Is the Nigeria Labour Congress also ignorant when it calls for urgent intervention to cushion workers from rising petrol prices?
“Are petroleum marketers ignorant when they call for policies that strengthen domestic refining and help moderate pump prices?
Are Nigerian manufacturers ignorant when they warn that power-related expenses now consume more than half of operating costs?
And are the millions of Nigerians crying out because they can no longer afford transportation, food and other basic necessities also ignorant?
“When workers, producers, marketers and ordinary families are all raising the alarm, government must listen. If everybody who questions your policy is ignorant, while only the President is presumed to be wise, then we have a leadership problem on our hands.”
Atiku admonished President Tinubu not to be ashamed to implement his proposal to introduce a capped production subsidy on petroleum products, noting that while himself and the President may be political opponents, the welfare of Nigerians is paramount.
According to him, “leadership requires the humility to confront the consequences of policy and the courage to change course. Across our factories, production costs are rising while unsold goods pile up in warehouses. Manufacturers struggle to keep producing; families struggle to afford what they produce.
“The goods are there. The need is there. What is missing is the purchasing power.
Government celebrates GDP growth, higher revenues and bigger allocations. But Nigerians judge the economy by what their money can buy.
“If government receives more naira while the citizen’s naira buys less food, less fuel, less electricity and less transportation, then bigger government revenues mean little to the family struggling to survive.
“Economic growth must enter the home.
It must enter the market basket. It must show up in the purchasing power of the worker. A government collecting more money while its citizens can afford less cannot declare victory on the strength of bigger numbers alone.
“Reform must ultimately be judged by what it does to the lives of the people. It should expand production, create opportunity and improve living standards. It cannot become an endless explanation for hardship.”
Furthermore, Atiku added that “the President should know that, eight months may sound short inside Aso Rock. But eight months is a very long time when you are living from hand to mouth. Use that time to reduce the burden on Nigerians.
“And if your government requires policy ideas or technical input on how to bring relief, I am prepared to make mine available. Nigerians do not have to wait for another administration before they benefit from an idea that can help them today.
“If you need the framework, I will provide it.
Implement it under your government. Give it whatever name you choose. Take the credit.
I ask for only one thing: Let Nigerians breathe. I am prepared to compete with you politically. But I will never compete with the welfare of the Nigerian people.
“The presidency may be contested. The wellbeing of Nigerians should never be.
If elected, from May 29, 2027, I will introduce a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians.”
