Fuel/Electricity Hike In Your Interest, APC Asks Nigerians To Endure

The All Progressive Congress (APC) on Tuesday, appealed to Nigerians to endure the pains brought about by the recent hike in fuel pump price and electricity tariffs.

The party said it is aware of the financial strains brought on the people as a result of the development, but expressed optimism that Nigerians would soon enjoy the gains of the increase.

A statement issued by APC Spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said the reviews were crucial and well considered decisions by government.

Nabena said the short and long-term benefits of the development on the citizenry and the country at large would become obvious in critical sectors such as health, education, infrastructure and social services targeted at the poor.

He added: “We point to shocking estimates by the Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) which reports that the budget for fuel subsidies in 2019 was sufficient to enroll the entire population of Nigeria in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Further, fuel subsidies took over N10 trillion of our national resources since 2006.

“Atleast, the generality of Nigerians and stakeholders agree on a thousand and one reasons why fuel subsidy has become unsustainable. The perceived benefits of fuel subsidies have long been overtaken by the previous corruption and drain on scarce resources that should be directed to other critical sectors.”

The APC spokesman noted that the task before the country now, was to improve her local refining capacities which is already on course in achieving and maintaining” a competitive, market-driven, transparent and accountable petroleum pricing template” which meets global best practices, particularly in a developing country as Nigeria.

He maintained that “this is in line with the current administration’s deregulation drive and move to increase private-sector participation in the petroleum sector.”

According to him, while the government works assiduously to solve the country’s electricity challenges permanently, it realizes that many Nigerians and businesses still rely on alternative sources for power supply to meet electricity needs.

Nabena said this is why the government is currently focusing on improving electricity and service delivery while also protecting poor and vulnerable Nigerians from arbitrary and estimated electricity billing.

He finally called on stakeholders to support the government’s decision on the ongoing deregulation.

He said: “As with government’s decision to increase Nigerian worker’s minimum wage and other social investments, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration takes the welfare of the citizenry seriously. We call on all stakeholders — government at all levels, private sector organizations, labour unions, civil societies, students and youth groups to support governments decision on the ongoing deregulation exercise as the citizens will be the ultimate beneficiaries.

“We urge stakeholders, particularly the organised labour such as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to be hoodwinked by skewed opposition party narratives on the deregulation exercise and electricity tariffs.

“The same partisans have failed to account for and return trillions of naira stolen from national coffers in the guise of subsidizing fuel and the degrading of the electricity sector under their watch despite huge allocations and subsequent theft of the resources meant go improve the sector. We urge all to support the current administration’s economic policies to uplift Nigerians.”