2023 elections reason FG suspended fuel subsidy removal —NBA President

The Federal Government suspension of its plan to remove fuel subsidy, according to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, was because of the 

forthcoming general elections in 2023.

Olumide made the claim on Monday when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The government had earlier I’m the day, through the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced during a meeting at the National Assembly, that it had suspended its initial plan to remove the fuel subsidy in June 2022.

The announcement came amid an outcry by labour unions and other stakeholders in the country.

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Mrs Ahmed had stated that fuel subsidy was provided for in the 2022 budget to run from January till June, but after consultations with stakeholders and in view of the high inflation and economic hardship, additional provisions would be made beyond the initial period.

However, speaking on development, Olamide said, “The subsidy issue is a hot potato for any government, particularly in this part of the world.

“I would have loved to think that the decision to suspend [fuel subsidy], I would have wanted to believe it is because the government cares so much about the people, and it is a government that is listening to the cries of the people, because indeed, as the minister of finance mentioned, it would be really tough if subsidy removal is implemented at this time with all of the other supervening circumstances.

“The strategists (of the government) would probably have sat down to think about it and they have told those who they advise that it would be political hara-kiri; it would be suicidal at this point in time to take out subsidy going into an election, which is just around the corner.

“This is what I think because those kinds of hard decisions, I don’t think are the kind of decisions you want to take going into an election. Those are my thoughts.”