Two months ago, President Bola Tinubu missed an opportunity to address the claims that his administration had resumed the payment of petroleum subsidy. Now, the claims of the return of subsidy payments are stronger, with citizens’ distrust in government growing.
Development Diaries reports that according to a draft report of the Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP) presented to President Tinubu by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, fuel subsidy is projected to gulp about N5.4 trillion in 2024.
Even though the Special Advisor to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has claimed that the 65-page draft document are leaked documents and are not official, it still goes to show that something is not right.
If that report is anything to go by, subsidy is not ‘gone’ after all.
Recall that Edun stated earlier this week that the subsidy removal is gradual.
Before now, there have been different claims regarding continuous payments of subsidy despite President Tinubu’s ‘subsidy is gone’ declaration on 29 May, 2023.
While Onanuga says the documents are not approved official documents of the federal government, he goes on to say that they are all policy proposals that are still subject to review at the highest level of government.
This discrepancy suggests a lack of transparency and accountability, which goes further to fuel public skepticism about the administration’s honesty and intentions.
Moreover, the continued payment of subsidies, if concealed, raises questions about the allocation and management of national resources, as undisclosed payments imply potential mismanagement or misappropriation of funds.
Recall that in July 2023, the federal government revealed that it had saved N400 billion within the four weeks following the implementation of the policy.
But citizens have yet to hear from the government on details of how much has been saved in ten months of implementing this subsidy removal.
Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu and his team to provide transparent information on funds saved from fuel subsidy removal and urgently respond to claims that the government has resumed fuel subsidy payments.
Transparency is the cornerstone of trust in governmental institutions, and without clear communication and accountability regarding such significant financial matters, citizens are left in a state of uncertainty and suspicion.
Photo source: Bola Tinubu
