Oshiomhole rules out return to old price, as TUC insists on N194/liter
By Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and current senator-elect, has ruled out the prospect of the federal government changing the current price of gasoline from N488 and N557 per liter to N194.
A fuel subsidy beyond May 31st is not included in the 2023 budget, according to Oshiomhole, who remarked while appearing on Channels Television on Sunday.
In support of President Bola Tinubu’s choice, Oshiomhole stated that other presidential contenders might have followed suit if they had won the February 2023 election. Tinubu announced the dismissal on Monday of last week.
He stated, “I believe Nigerians are aware that the budget for this year did not include funding for subsidies through 2023. In June, it came to an end.
“All of the top presidential candidates had concurred to end the subsidies during the campaign season. I recall Peter Obi, who was running for office at the time, promising to take it down on the first day. The same statement was made by Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar.
“The question is not whether you have revenue; if Nigeria is going to save about N7 trillion by getting rid of the subsidy, there is no doubt that you can take some 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.”
While it continues to negotiate over the most recent rise, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, on Sunday demanded the FG to return to the previous gasoline pump price of N194 per litre.
In an effort to lessen the impact of the loss of the gasoline subsidy on Nigerians, the union also requested that the government examine the minimum wage.
The demands were made during the newly scheduled meeting with the government on Sunday night at the State House in Abuja.