Subsidy removal: Reps ask FG to provide palliatives for Nigerians

The house of representatives has called on the federal government to introduce palliative measures to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians.

The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Sani Madaki, lawmaker representing Dala federal constituency of Kano, during the plenary session on Wednesday.

Presenting the motion, Madaki expressed concern over the sudden removal of the petrol subsidy which he said is causing hardship for Nigerians.

He said Nigerians are struggling to meet up with not only the high cost of petrol but also the consequential increase in the prices of foodstuff.

“The house is aware of a presidential directive to put palliative measures in place to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians. But the federal government is yet to implement the palliative,” he said.

“The house is worried that since the removal of the subsidy, several protests have been recorded as citizens accused the government of being insensitive to their plight.”

In April, the previous administration had said it secured the sum of $800 million from the World Bank as part of its post-subsidy palliative scheme.

Zainab Ahmed, the then minister of finance, had said the fund would be disturbed to 10 million households considered to be most vulnerable.