Juliet Buna
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate review of the proposed N8,000 conditional cash transfer to Nigerians to cushion the effect of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
In a statement on Tuesday night, Dele Alake, special adviser on special duties, communications, and strategy, said Tinubu has also directed that the whole gamut of the palliative package of the government be unveiled to Nigerians.
The statement reads in part, “The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as a government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal.
“A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision. Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped, the government has deployed a broad spectrum of relief to bring help to Nigerians.
“While it should be noted that the cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief packages of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a listening leader who has vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme, the President has directed as follows:
“That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programme envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.
“That the whole gamut of the palliative package of the government be unveiled to Nigerians.
“Immediate release of fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households, respectively, in all the 36 states and the FCT.
“The President further assures Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of the subsidy regime will be judiciously utilised.” The beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, or political affiliation.
“President Bola Tinubu has promised to always prioritise the wellbeing of Nigerians, and he is irrevocably committed to the vow. A number of decisions taken so far by this Administration have buttressed this stance.
“You will recall that the President took a similar decision after listening to complaints from the business community and stakeholders about burdensome taxes, particularly the multiplicity of taxes they are made to experience. This warranted the signing of four (4) Executive Orders cancelling some classes of taxes while suspending the implementation dates of others.
“In addition, the President has also set up a Tax Reform/Fiscal Policy Committee to bring up recommendations that will engender a wholesome fiscal environment for the country and remove anti-business barriers.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that President Tinubu will continue to be a listening leader whose ears will not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry. The President believes government exists to cater for the interests of the people, and he has demonstrated this so clearly.”
