Tinubu not responsible for subsidy removal, says Dogara

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has clarified that President Bola Tinubu was not responsible for the removal of the fuel subsidy, despite his declaration that “subsidy is gone.”

Dogara explained that prior to Tinubu’s election, the National Assembly had not allocated any funds for subsidy payments in the approved budget. In an interview on Channels TV, he acknowledged that while Nigerians are experiencing the consequences of this subsidy removal, he believes it was a necessary step for the country’s advancement.

He emphasized the need to shift the narrative from merely discussing Nigeria’s challenges to focusing on viable solutions, pointing out that meaningful progress often requires sacrifices. “The issue in this country is that people tend to dwell on problems and consider leaving, as if those issues don’t exist elsewhere. Yet, there’s a lack of discussion on solutions, even among the elite. When you engage with them, the conversation remains fixated on the problems,” Dogara noted.

Regarding the subsidy situation, he stated, “There was no budget provision for it, and anyone claiming that the President suspended it is misinformed. How can you suspend a payment that was never budgeted for in the first place?”

He further clarified, “As of now, I am unaware of any amendments made to include subsidy payments in the budget. The reality is that the subsidy was already removed before Tinubu took office. The budget, which is constitutionally mandated, does not include any allocation for it, so where would the funding come from?”

During his inauguration on May 29, 2023, Tinubu announced that his administration would eliminate the subsidy on petroleum products, stating emphatically, “Subsidy is gone.” He reiterated that there was no provision for subsidy in the national budget from June 2023 onward, confirming its removal.