The National Economic Council on Thursday, thrown its weight in support of the proposed cost-of-living allowance for civil servants as one of the palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of payment of subsidy on petrol.
This disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the vice president, Kashim Shettima who revealed that this it was part of resolutions reached on Thursday, at the fourth meeting of the council chaired by him at the State House Executive Council Chambers, Abuja.
In the press release signed by his spokesperson, Olusola Abiola, the vice president said that NEC has backed the planned distribution of grains and fertilizer to Nigerians by the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, to mitigate the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy on the citizens.
He added that the decision was made after a presentation by the NEC Adhoc Committee on cushioning the effects of petrol subsidy removal was made by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo.
In his speech, after deliberations on the presentation which also include the endorsement of the deployment of CNG-powered vehicles for public transportation, Shettima read the resolutions of the Council.
“we will also pursue vigorously, the mass deployment of CNG-powered vehicles and establishment of autogas conversion plants/kits in all States in the short-term and deployment of electric buses and cars with charging infrastructure across the country,” the vice president was quoted as saying.
“The meeting also resolved to support enhanced engagements between State Governors and the leadership of the labour unions across the States and proposed the provision of the cost-of-living allowances to be paid to civil servants in both the State and Federal Civil Services.
“The Council agreed to support federal Government’s efforts to scale up infrastructure especially to give attention to fixing dilapidated highway roads across the country.”
However, the spokesman for the All Progressives Congress campaign council, Bayo Onanuga has urged Nigerians to wait patiently for the palliatives promised by President Bola Tinubu.
This APC chieftain, stated this, following announcement of the new pump price of fuel coupled with the removal of payment of subsidy on petrol, which has further heightened the sufferings of the masses and poor Nigerians.
“In this season of high fuel price, I want to plead with our people to exercise some patience. We are all jointly experiencing the pain,” he posted on Twitter.
Onanuga during the last general election also pleaded with Nigerians to stop the intemperate attacks against the new government.
The removal of the fuel subsidy coupled with the uprising in fuel price has caused many Nigerians wallowing in poverty, which has caused people yelling at the policies adopted by the new government.
President Tinubu during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, had pronounced that subsidy on petrol is “gone,” after which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited fix the new prices per litre across the states of the federation.
However, The party has been receiving backlashes from different quarters, as a way of making the government realise what people are facing, and how to find a quick solution to ease the suffering of the masses.
