On fuel subsidy removal
Ironically, President Jonathan’s administration since his inauguration has never failed to amuse the Nigerian people, who rooted and voted for him, with the simple belief that the doctrine of “Good luck” will set the country in the right direction. Not only is the government failing her perceived admirers, but it seems to be proving its […]
Ironically, President Jonathan’s administration since his inauguration has never failed to amuse the Nigerian people, who rooted and voted for him, with the simple belief that the doctrine of “Good luck” will set the country in the right direction. Not only is the government failing her perceived admirers, but it seems to be proving its antagonists right who never believe President Jonathan has anything to offer the Nigerian state. The propose removal of fuel subsidy, to me, remain the greatest policy flip flop of the current administration. This is because the reason so far given by the administration cannot hold water. Government often argued that the subsidy is not reaching the target people it was meant for; that so far, the government has spent over N1.5 trillion on subsidy and yet most of the fuels were either smuggled to neighbouring countries, or the major marketers are shortchanging Nigerians. Let’s say we believe the government, but the question is is it the fault of average Nigerians that these products were stolen or the failure of government and her related agencies to enforce and punish the so-called saboteurs? I think the outcry of government is not only misplaced, but shows lack of courage on the side of government officials to tackles the crisis in the oil sector.
If the government is really sincere on the issue of subsidy, why has the government failed to publish the list of the beneficiaries of the subsidy and punish those found to be guilty of diversion of the fuel according to the dictates of the law? Why transfer the burden of inefficiency of government to fight corruption in the oil sector to the citizens? Why is government unable to refine the petroleum product internally? Why is government foot dragging on building new refineries or attracting foreign direct investment into the lucrative oil market in the country? Why is it that it is only the poor masses of this country that will always be asked to sacrifice in the name of economic stability? The reality is that people do not trust government any longer, especially within the backdrop of government promising to invest the revenue proceeds from such subsidy removal into infrastructural provision. This suspicion and mistrust is against the backdrop of decades of governmental failure to provide such amenities to the long suffering Nigerians.
If government complains of losing revenue through subsidy in the short run; what about the long run implications of such policy measure especially as regards to economic, political and socio-cultural and security implications on the country? So far, there are no economic and socio-political measures put in place by the government to cushion the effects of the policy.
No doubt, removal of subsidy will trigger economic crisis in the already fragile economy of the Nigerian state. Fuel as a unit of commodity has a multiplier effects on the social fabrics of the Nigerian state. While government is complaining of shortfall in revenue, what about the people that will be the greatest victims of the upheaval that will come with the subsidy removal? Such upheaval include hyper inflation in goods and service, poverty and hardship, social vices and tension, unemployment, etc.
Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega wrote from Wuse Zone 4, [email protected]