FG, States working at harmonizing palliative plans ahead of petroleum subsidy removal

As the commencement of planned gradual removal of petroleum subsidy remains about three months, the Federal Government said it has yet to harmonise templates with the States on palliatives to cushion its harsh effects on Nigerians.

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, stated this while addressing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Agba said the concerned committees would soon conclude discussions with key stakeholders as the administration concludes its tenure in the coming weeks.

The Minister, who joined two of his colleagues; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and that of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, to address the post-FEC briefing, said that even though a committee, led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had been working for about a year, nothing definite had been agreed.

Agba, who was fielding questions on the consequences of the subsidy removal without necessary palliatives to lessen the impact, was hopeful that the committee working with state governors can arrive at a common position on the matter.

But he said there was no timeline for Osinbajo’s committee to conclude the discussion which he said was ongoing.

He, however,recalled that under the Federal Government 2022 to 2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, a proposal of N3.3trillion was made for fuel subsidy between January and June 2023.