Subsidy: Tinubu Directs Immediate Review of N8,000 Cash Transfer

•Orders unveiling of entire palliative package to Nigerians

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, directed the immediate review of the N8,000 cash transfer to each of the vulnerable 12 million Nigerian households, intended to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal, following reservations expressed by many Nigerians about the cash policy.

Tinubu also ordered the immediate unveiling of the entire palliative package to Nigerians, while grains and fertilisers were to be made available to 50 million farmers and households in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, disclosed the position of the president, in a press statement titled, “Review of N8,000 Cash Transfer.”

Alake noted that much as the cash programme was not the only item in the government relief package, as a listening leader, who had vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme, Tinubu had given new directives.

These, Alake said, included, “That the N8, 000 conditional cash transfer programme 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.”

Alake also stated, “President Bola Tinubu has promised to always prioritise 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 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.

“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.”