Subsidy Removal: Nigerian Governors Back Decision As Tinubu Urges Need To ‘Eliminate Poverty’

Nigerian governors have expressed their support towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's subsidy removal decision.

The governors spoke in favor of subsidy removal at the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF), which was led by the governor of Kwara State, Abdul Rahman Abdul Rasaq, at the State House on Wednesday.

All the governors thanked President Tinubu, and promised to work towards helping the people get over the short-term impact of the decision, as per Voice Of Nigeria.

The meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and new secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, alongside 22 governors and two deputy governors from Edo and Niger states.

"We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people," Tinubu told the governors. "Poverty is not hereditary, it is from society. Our position is to eliminate poverty. Set aside partisan politics, we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building."

"We are a family occupying one house, and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering on results."

Tinubu also assured everyone in the room that there will be "unity and stability" despite there being "diversity in culture and politics."

"If anyone thinks it is easy, look at other nations who are over a hundred years in democracy," he added. "We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people."

"We took the bull by the horns by removing the elephant in the room, before the nation sinks," he said about removal of the subsidy. "We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy, and put resources in place. We must think and perform."

"After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account," he concluded.

The Chairman of the NGF thanked the president for inviting everyone to the meeting and discuss the development of the country.

"The NGF will follow the tradition of working constitutionally and harmoniously with you," he added.

Tinubu made the announcement of removing the subsidy shortly after he was sworn in as the 16th president of Nigeria on May 29.

Following the announcement, Nigerian gas stations witnessed long queues of drivers and increased petrol prices in Lagos, Abuja, Ilorin, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Kano, Makurdi and other urban cities. Even though the subsidy would end by June 30, the prices have increased from N195 per liter to N600 per liter in several parts of Nigeria, CNN reported.

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria criticized Tinubu, and said the president should have held a discussion with the association before announcing this decision.

Subsidy removal was first announced by former president Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 as part of fiscal and petroleum sector reforms, but the plan was abandoned because of fears of protests during the presidential election held on Feb. 25.

In 2022, the country had spent about $10 billion on fuel subsidies, Reuters reported.