Following groundswell opposition, President Bola Tinubu has suspended his proposal to make cash transfer of N8,000 to 12 million poor households for six as government palliative to cushion the impact of recent petrol subsidy removal in the country.
The proposal had met with
series of objections by many Nigerians who have viewed it as unnecessary and
waste of funds as the funds are ate too little to make any meaningful impact,
just as the accountability in ensuring the poorest households are reached cannot
be guaranteed.
According to a statement issued
by his spokesman, Dele Alake, on Tuesday night, Tinubu directed that the
proposal be “reviewed” following the rejection of the policy by Nigerians.
Alake said that “a lot of
ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few
naysayers”, even though the Tinubu administration believes in the maxim that
“when there is prohibition, there must be provision”.
In view of this, Alake
announced that Tinubu ordered that “the N8,000 conditional cash transfer
programmed envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed
immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against
it.
“That the whole gamut of
palliative package of government be unveiled to Nigerians.”
His full statement reads: “You
will agree with me that it has become part of the culture of President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu administration to constantly dialogue with Nigerians who voted him
into office.
“The President covenanted with
Nigerians that their welfare and security will be topmost in the Renewed Hope
Agenda of his government.
“In the last few days, the
conventional and new media platforms have become awash with stories of the
government intending to embark on conditional cash transfer to vulnerable households
mostly affected by the painful but necessary decision to remove subsidy from
petrol.
“The story has been widely
reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households
from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as
government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians
consequent upon subsidy removal.
“A lot of ill-informed
imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. The
Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must
be provision.
“Since subsidy, the
hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped,
government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.
“While it should be noted that
cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a listening leader who has vowed to always put
Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme, the President has directed
as follows: -
That the N8,000 conditional
cash transfer programmed envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable
households be reviewed immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed
by Nigerians against it.
That the whole gamut of palliative
package of government be unveiled to Nigerians.
Immediate release of
fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households
respectively in all the 36 states and the FCT.
“The President further assures
Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain
occasioned by the end of subsidy regime will be judiciously utilised. The
beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic,
religious or political affiliation.
“President Bola Tinubu has
promised to always prioritize the wellbeing of Nigerians and he is irrevocably
committed to the vow. A number of decisions taken so far by this Administration
have buttressed this stance.
“You will recall that the
President took a similar decision after listening to complaints from the
business community/stakeholders about burdensome taxes, particularly
multiplicity of taxes they are made to experience. This warranted the signing
of four (4) Executive Orders cancelling some classes of taxes, while suspending
the implementation dates of others.
“In addition, the President has
also set up a Tax Reform/Fiscal Policy Committee to bring up recommendations
that will engender a wholesome fiscal environment for the country and remove
anti-business barriers.
“I wish to assure Nigerians
that President Tinubu will continue to be a listening leader whose ears will
not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry. The President believes
government exists to cater for the interest of the people and he has demonstrated
this so clearly.”
إرسال تعليق