Former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara clarified that President Bola Tinubu is not responsible for the removal of the petroleum subsidy, stating the decision was made prior to Tinubu's election. He urged Nigerians to focus on solutions rather than dwelling on problems related to the economy.
In a recent interview, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara clarified that President Bola Tinubu is not responsible for the removal of the petroleum subsidy. According to Dogara, the decision was not initiated by Tinubu but rather was an announcement made during his inauguration on May 29, 2023. He emphasized that the subsidy policy had already been set in motion before Tinubu's election, as the 2023 budget approved by the National Assembly did not allocate any funds for subsidy payments.
Dogara dismissed claims that Tinubu suspended the subsidy, stating that no budgetary provision existed for such a move. He argued that anyone suggesting Tinubu suspended the subsidy was misinformed, as it was never budgeted for in the first place. The former Speaker expressed concern over the tendency of Nigerians, including the elite, to focus on the nation's challenges without proposing viable solutions. He urged citizens to accept the reality of the subsidy removal and recognize that the previous administration, led by Muhammadu Buhari, did not account for the subsidy in the budget.
Dogara's comments highlight a growing conversation in Nigeria about accountability and the need for constructive dialogue regarding the nation's economic issues. He called for a shift in focus from merely discussing problems to actively seeking solutions to improve the country's situation.
