Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has clarified that President Bola Tinubu is not responsible for removing the fuel subsidy, despite making the announcement.
During an appearance on Channels TV, Dogara explained that the removal had already been set in motion, as there was no provision for the subsidy in the national budget before Tinubu took office.
Dogara emphasized that since the budget did not allocate funds for the subsidy, Tinubu couldn’t have suspended or continued it.
He stated, “The truth is that he (Tinubu) was not the one who removed the subsidy. But he did make that pronouncement.”
Dogara also acknowledged that while the fuel subsidy removal has had significant effects on Nigerians, it was a necessary decision for the country’s long-term benefit.
He reiterated that without budgetary provision, the subsidy could not have been sustained, underscoring the constitutional backing of the budget and its role in guiding government spending.