The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu, describing the policy as one that unfairly burdens ordinary Nigerians while shielding those responsible for past abuses.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that the subsidy itself is not the problem but the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued its implementation.
He maintained that the removal of subsidy is a common economic tool used globally, stressing that the real issue lies in its abuse. According to him, removing subsidy across the board is as problematic as applying it indiscriminately, as both approaches fail to address systemic inefficiencies.
“The problem is clear and even you will agree with me, subsidy has acquired a negative connotation, but there is nothing wrong with subsidy. All countries give subsidies. It is the corruption associated with the subsidy that is the problem. Removing subsidy for everyone is as bad as giving subsidy to everyone.”
Abdullahi said the ADC would instead pursue a targeted subsidy regime designed to support vulnerable Nigerians, noting that it is unjust to make the poor bear the consequences of corruption perpetrated by the wealthy.
He criticised the APC-led government’s 2023 decision to remove subsidy without adequate safety nets, describing it as a policy that “punishes the poor for the crimes committed by the rich.”
The ADC spokesman further argued that a uniform fuel pricing system is inequitable, pointing out that low-income earners should not pay the same price for petrol as wealthy individuals with multiple vehicles.
He advocated for alternative measures, including incentives and palliatives, to reduce energy costs for those most in need, rather than relying solely on pump price deregulation.
“ADC will pursue a policy of targeted subsidy to those who need it. It is wrong to punish the poor for the crimes committed by the rich. What the APC government did in 2023 by removing subsidy universally without providing any safety net for the people is to punish poor people for the sins committed by rich people,” he said.
Abdullahi added that the ADC’s economic approach would prioritise social protection, job creation and poverty reduction, insisting that national progress should be measured not just by GDP growth but by improvements in citizens’ living standards.
“The solution is what we call targeted subsidy, by bringing down the cost of energy for those who need it, not necessarily by direct pump price control, but by giving incentives and palliatives to people as some of the options to adopt. Removing subsidies is not the only option,” he said.
“ADC is saying that we will pursue economic policies that protect the people, not measure progress by GDP growth alone, but by how many people were able to lift out of poverty and jobs, he added.
Credit: The Sun