Subsidy removal: Reps commends Tinubu for announcement of palliatives

The House of Representatives has commended President Bola Tinubu for the announcement of palliatives aimed at alleviating the adverse economic effects resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy.

The spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the Green Chamber empathized with Nigerians who have been distressed due to the gap between the period of fuel subsidy removal and the implementation of palliative measures.

He expressed optimism that the policies and initiatives announced by the Executive would bring succour to the people.

Rotimi recalled that on July 13, 2023, the House of Representatives approved the request presented by Tinubu for the amendment of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act to extract N500 billion from the budget for palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

According to him, “The House commends President Tinubu for his interventions in the manufacturing sector via support for small and medium scale enterprises, as well as the plan to work with the state governments to invest in critical social and economic infrastructure, and to deploy 3,000 commuter buses, amongst other measures.”

The spokesperson stressed that the integrated interventions would stimulate economic productivity, boost agriculture production, create jobs, and improve living conditions.

He noted that the House also welcomed the planned upward review of the national minimum wage, saying it would be considered and approved once transmitted to the National Assembly by the presidency

Rotimi assured: “The House will be alive to the constitutional obligation to effectively monitor all entities of government responsible for the deployment of the palliative measures.

“On our part in the House of Representatives, we will closely monitor every MDA that will be involved in the implementation to ensure speedy delivery, equitable distribution, and transparency.”