As criticisms continue to drop following the fuel subsidy removal policy of the federal government, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has lampooned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the highly sensitive subsidy.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed who is the spokesman of the forum said Tinubu’s decision does not give his administration a good start.
Africa Today News, New York had earlier reported that during his inauguration on Monday, Tinubu had announced an end to the fuel subsidy regime.
The president had said money meant for fuel subsidy would be diverted to other infrastructural developments across the country.
However, Baba-Ahmed lamented the skyrocketing price of fuel following Tinubu’s declaration.
Tweeting, Baba-Ahmed wrote: ‘Booby-trapped, or just plain lack of experience, the skyrocketing rise in prices of petrol following President Tinubu’s comment on the absence of budgetary provision for fuel subsidy does not give the new administration a good start.
‘Getting out will be tougher than staying put’, he submitted.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has expressed dismay over the declaration by the President that the subsidy scheme in place in the country is gone without consulting relevant stakeholders and putting in place adequate measures to cushion its effect on workers.
NLC in a statement by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero noted with regret that less than 24 hours after the pronouncement, some marketers shut down their filling states and immediately there was a price hike in some places.
While describing the action as insensitive, the NLC President explained that it has brought tears and sorrow to millions of Nigerians instead of the renewed hope the administration has promised.
He also said that President Tinubu’s pronouncement has devalued the quality of the lives of Nigerians by over 300 percent and counting.