Subsidy removal: TUC rejects finance commissioners’ position

TUC President Comrade Bala Bobboi Kaigama in a press statement said the attention of the congress has been drawn to the reported resolution of the FSFC as stated by its chairman, Ebonyi State Commissioner of Finance, Timothy Odaah, calling for the removal of fuel subsidy.The commissioners said “subsidy should be removed so that every state […]

TUC President Comrade Bala Bobboi Kaigama in a press statement said the attention of the congress has been drawn to the reported resolution of the FSFC as stated by its chairman, Ebonyi State Commissioner of Finance, Timothy Odaah, calling for the removal of fuel subsidy.
The commissioners said “subsidy should be removed so that every state or any member of the federating unit sharing from FAAC will take its own money and determine how to use it or grant subsidy to the level that it can afford.”
But Kaigama described the commissioners’ argument as selfish, which exposes the “share-and-grab-the-money-and-run approach” of the political elite, just as he advised the government to completely ignore the position of the commissioner and his likes.
 “It is sad that such pronouncement has come only a few days after the Minister of Petroleum Resources Dieziani Allison Madueke stated publicly that government has no plan for subsidy removal.
“Indeed we would consider any attempt by the government to withdraw fuel subsidy any time soon as an act in bad faith and a breach of trust of the Nigerian people, especially workers. As far as we are concerned, the government exists for the people and their welfare and security should be of paramount concern to it.
“Fuel subsidy removal at this time and without considering the potential adverse effects on the masses is wrong and would amount to a betrayal,” he said.