By Ayo Yusuf
In order to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the National Assembly seeking an amendment to the 2022 supplementary appropriation Act to allow the Federal Government to source N500 billion for palliatives.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who read the president’s letter on the floor of the House during Wednesday’s plenary said the money will be sourced from the 2022 supplementary Appropriation Act of N819. 5 billion.
The letter titled: “Request for the amendment of the 2022 appropriation act” reads in part: “I write to request the approval of the House of Representatives for an amendment of the 2022 appropriation act in accordance with the law.
“The request has become necessary in other to source for funds to provide necessary palliatives to cushion the effect of the recent removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.
“The sum of N500 billion only has been extracted from the 2022 appropriation act of N819.536 for that provision of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal. I expect that the House will speedily consider the request”.
The Speaker said the House will consider the President’s request at plenary on Thursday and asked members willing to make contribution to be prepared to do so.
Since May 29 when President Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy during his inauguration address, organised labour and other Nigerians have urged the president to approve measures that would cushion the effect on the people.
Part of the agreement being considered by the FG and labour unions who had agreed to shelve their strike was an increase in the minimum wage of workers.
However, details of how the president intends to use the half a trillion Naira to ameliorate the situation caused by the subsidy removal is not available yet.
