FG Is Still Debating Palliatives, According To The Ministry

Three months before the removal of fuel subsidies, the federal administration has admitted that no decision has been made on how to lessen its impact on residents.

After the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari and held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning Clement Agba told reporters that despite the efforts of the committee led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for about a year now, nothing concrete had been agreed upon.

Agba expressed hope that the group working with state governors would reach a consensus on the issue while facing queries about the effects of the subsidy elimination without the requisite palliatives to reduce the damage.

He continued by saying that Osinbajo’s group has not set a deadline for wrapping up its continuing discussion.

He noted that a N3.3 trillion request had been made for gasoline subsidies between January and June 2023 under the federal government’s 2022 to 2023 Medium-Term Spending Plan.

“The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has been heading a group working on this for more than a year and a half, and the National Economic Council also has a committee that has also been working on this,” added Agba.

“So, the stage that we are in right now is figuring out how to codify the ideas that have emerged from both the federal government and the side of the governors.

“As you are aware, it is something that will have an impact on the whole country.

They just need to make sure that both the federal and subnational administrations are kept in the loop.

The 2023 population and housing census had been slated for March 29, according to Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, who also addressed the national media.

This, according to the Minister, followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to postpone and reschedule the gubernatorial elections to March 18.

He also said that the National Population Commission was given N2.8 billion by the Council to purchase software for the census.

The National Population Commission sent a statement asking for software so they could perform the census in May of this year.

“I think they can’t start the census as scheduled due of the postponing of the elections.

According to him, “They requested Council’s permission for a contract to purchase software for the census at a cost of N2.8bn.”