Shekarau: FG should provide palliatives to cushion effect of petrol subsidy crisis

Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Kano, says the federal government should embark on a “damage control” process and ensure palliatives are put in place to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal on the masses.

Shekarau spoke on Wednesday when he featured on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.

At his inaugural speech on Monday, President Bola Tinubu said the petrol subsidy regime is gone and that there is no provision for it in the 2023 Appropriation Act.

Tinubu’s declaration was followed by panic-buying of petrol while access to the product became difficult.

Shekarau said “the way” Tinubu made the announcement “triggered” the response from Nigerians.

“He said it in a military way,” Shekarau said.

Shekarau said Buhari’s administration had “made it clear” that subsidy would be removed because it was not appropriated for in the 2023 budget.

“If I were Tinubu, I would have referred to that — that (subsidy removal) has been in the process and we are not objecting to the process, we are going to study it to see all the implications and ensure that we remain on track as to what is going on,” Shekarau said.

“Naturally, I think the reaction nationwide is not totally unexpected.”

Shekarau, who represents Kano central in the senate, also said previous administrations have not been “carrying labour along” in their plan to remove petrol subsidy.

“Once the government moves forward on this subsidy, the labour comes biting hard,” he said.

“It is now the period of damage control.

“He (Tinubu) needs to go back to the drawing board. Unfortunately, it would take us a long time to negotiate — the labour organisations are already making a lot of noise.

“(FG should) also come up with all the palliatives and give Nigerians all the assurances,” he added.