Fuel subsidy: Oshiomhole kicks against return to old rate, as TUC maintains on N194/liter

Former governor of Edo State, former NLC chairman and currently a Senator-elect, Adams Oshiomhole has ruled out the likelihood of the Federal Government overturning the current Petroleum pump price from N488 and N557 per litre to N194.

Oshiomhole, who spoke while featuring on Channels Television on Sunday, said the 2023 budget does not provide for fuel subsidy beyond May 31st.

Backing the decision of President Bola Tinubu who announced the removal on Monday last week, Oshiomhole said it was a move other presidential candidates may have made if they had won the February 2023 election.

He said, “I think Nigerians are aware that this year’s budget did not provide for subsidy throughout 2023. It ended in June.

“All the leading presidential candidates had during the electioneering season agreed to remove the subsidy. I remember the then-candidate, Peter Obi said he would remove it on the very first day. Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu said the same thing.

“The issue is not whether you have revenue, if Nigeria is going to save about N7 trillion by removing subsidy, then there is no question that you can take part of that and put it in other sectors because those savings will go to the federation account which will be distributed among the three tiers of government”.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress, TUC on Sunday asked the FG to revert to the old petrol pump price of N194 per litre while it continues to negotiate over the recent increase.

The union also asked the government to review the current minimum wage in a bid to cushion the effect of the petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians.

The demands were made at the reconvened meeting with the government held at the State House in Abuja, Sunday evening.