Fuel subsidy cannot be sustained, say Oodua groups

They said:”If we don’t kill subsidy, subsidy will kill us.”

The associations under the aegis of ‘Oodua Self-determination Groups’ advised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance.

Theirs spokesman, Rasak Olokoba of the Oodua Youth Movement, told reporters in Lagos that Labour should give the new government a chance, adding that apart from unfolding plans to bring the refineries back on their feet, palliatives are also underway for the poor to cushion the effects of zero-fuel subsidy.

He also explained that President Bola Tinubu has plan to increase the minimum wage from the current N30,000.

At the conference were leaders of civil society groups, including Comrade Wale Adeoye, Chief Kunle Osodi of Agbekoya, Wasiu Alabi of Oodua Peoples Congress, Jubril 0000u of ORF, Afolabi Omotoso of OPC Reformed, Sadam of OPC New Era, Sunday Akinmoye and Taiwo Adeyeri.

Olokoba recalled that during the campaigns, Tinubu had mustered the courage and political will to inform Nigerians that he will take tough and hard decisions.

He said for this year alone, Nigeria had budgeted N11 trillion of its oil revenue for subsidy, adding that “this cannot continue.”

Olokoba said the huge amount that would be saved through subsidy removal can be channelled to infrastructure, housing, education, and healthcare.