Federal lawmakers on Thursday reacted to the deregulation of the downstream of the oil sector by the federal government on Thursday.
While some criticized the removal and the timing, other lawmakers described it is a welcome development.
Channels Television’s Linda Akhigbe reports that there have been reports that government would remove fuel subsidy and that has been the subject of debate for some time now.
She adds that the Federal Government had even maintained that it would not include fuel subsidy in the 2016 budget.
However, Wednesday’s announcement of an increase in fuel price is eliciting an instant response in the country and expectedly in the social media.
The last time the Federal Government went down this same path of removing fuel subsidy, the reactions were strong as protests broke out in some parts of the country.
Senator Shehu Sani was one of the staunch supporters of the anti-subsidy removal protests in 2012.
He said he has not changed his position on the removal of fuel subsidy.
Mr. Sani, who is the chairman Senate committee on Foreign and Domestic debt, said in a statement that the decision was “most unfortunate, punitive and insensitive”.
“At a time when poor Nigerians are facing enormous economic hardships and are being asked to be more patient all the NNPC can do is to add to their suffering,” he said, referring to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
“It’s utterly irrational and illogical to further impoverish the people in order to achieve liberal self-serving liberal economic aspirations.
“It’s all evident that capitalist forces are holding the FG hostage and are blackmailing it to implement its inimical version of economic reforms. It makes no sense if everyone must perish in order to revamp the economy.
“Economic reforms are necessary but it must be done with a human face and human heart if it’s made in the interest of human beings.
“Outrageous increase in pump price is a social provocation. It’s possible to reform the oil sector without necessarily incinerating the country. We must not take the patience, the sacrifice and the good will of Nigerians for granted.
“I stand opposed to the increase in pump price and I call on PMB to weigh in on the NNPC to rescind the decision,” Mr. Sani insisted.
For another federal lawmaker, Sen Mao Ohuabunwa, the announcement of subsidy removal is confusing.
But a federal lawmaker in the House of Representatives supports the removal of fuel subsidy.
Akhigbe maintains that in the coming days, a debate on government’s removal of fuel subsidy would take centre stage, as labour unions are already kicking against the move and have vowed to resist it.
