The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted the blame for the recent removal of the fuel subsidy from President Bola Tinubu to the Nigerian populace.
According to APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the decision was not a personal or political one but a mandatory implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Morka explained that the PIA, enacted by the National Assembly, had abolished the fuel subsidy system. This legislative change, he noted, left President Tinubu with no choice but to adhere to the new legal framework upon his inauguration.
In a statement to Arise TV, Morka emphasized, “The removal of the subsidy is not a political move or a decision by the president. It is the result of the Petroleum Industry Act, which eliminated the subsidy system that was previously in place during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. As of the PIB’s signing into law, the subsidy was officially discontinued, and the current administration cannot reverse that decision due to legal constraints.”
Morka also addressed the unsustainability of the subsidy system. He pointed out that Nigerians had grown dependent on subsidized fuel prices, a practice contrary to international norms. This dependency, coupled with a lack of public engagement with National Assembly representatives, contributed to the situation.
“The subsidy regime had become untenable,” Morka continued. “It’s unsustainable for a country to spend all its revenues on subsidizing a single product. While there was an understanding that a complete removal could disrupt the economy, the legal framework mandated this action.”
He further explained that while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has taken steps to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal, such as managing a gradual phase-out, the full removal was legally inevitable. Morka urged Nigerians to recognize that their representatives in the National Assembly had opportunities to voice objections during public hearings on the PIA.
The APC spokesperson concluded, “It is crucial to understand that the removal of the subsidy was a necessary legal measure, not a discretionary choice by President Tinubu. Nigerians must hold themselves accountable for not engaging more actively in the legislative process that led to this outcome.”
