Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has set up an Adhoc Committee on Palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the people of the state.
Uba announced the constitution of the committee during a meeting with leaders of organised labour and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at the Government House in Kaduna on Monday, June 5.
The governor also set up a Standing Committee on Government-Labour Relations headed by the deputy governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe. The governor told newsmen after the meeting in Kaduna that the engagement was to fashion out ways to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
According to him, the fuel subsidy is a scam benefitting only a few individuals and its removal will in the long run be of immense benefits to Nigerians. He said that the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu had no option but to remove the subsidy, which was not provided for in the 2023 budget.
“It will be hard at the beginning, but the people will smile at the end,” he added. The governor said that the meeting with the labour leaders was to look at possible means to alleviate the situation.
“I know what the people are facing and as leaders it is our responsibility to come up with important and robust palliative arrangements. We cannot do that without the support of the labour leaders, they are close to the people, and they know their concerns,” he said.
The governor said a committee will be set up to ensure amicable resolution of issues thrown up by the fuel subsidy removal. Uba Sani said he would also continue to engage the people and labour unions on any contentious issue.
“I have no doubt in my mind that Kaduna State is not going to experience any protest; our problem is very peculiar, we will not seat and look at what other states are doing We are going to address our issues together with the labour leaders and by the grace of God, we will have that support. There is not going to be any strike in the state,” he added.
The meeting was attended by leaders of the NLC, TUC, IPMAN and NURTW. The state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Suleiman, said that the engagement started on a good note and discussed ways to reduce the effect of the subsidy removal
“We are not in any way representing the national body, rather the citizens of Kaduna State,” he added.
The NLC chairman believed that the governor, as a comrade, has great concern for the downtrodden. Also, Abdullahi Danfulani, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), appreciated the governor for calling the meeting.
He said that the unions would look at effects the subsidy removal would have on members and the general public, hoping that the government will alleviate its negative effect on the people.
On his part, Sadiq Yusuf, Secretary General of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the state, said the meeting will create an understanding between government and the marketers.
He said it was important for a volatile state like Kaduna not to take part in the planned protest, adding that the association supports the removal of the subsidy. Yusuf said money saved from the removal of the fuel subsidy should be channelled to setting up more refineries, schools, and research centres.
He also advised governments at all levels to provide palliative to minimise the effects of the subsidy removal.
President Bola Tinubu had, in his inaugural speech shortly after his swearing-in in Abuja on Monday, May 29, declared that “fuel subsidy is gone”. Tinubu stated that there was no provision for fuel subsidy in the budget he is inheriting from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
The president said the money being spent on subsidy would be channelled to other use, especially on education, health, and infrastructure. The declaration has since generated mixed feelings as the effect was being felt with oil marketers and filling stations shutting down, resulting in queues, while some stations had already hiked their prices.
The announcement also angered labour unions who have called for a strike starting on Wednesday, June 7, if the decision is not reversed.
