Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the National Assembly to investigate the alleged secret petrol subsidy payment.
In an issued statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, yesterday, Atiku urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate bravery in taking ownership of its policies and their consequences by being accountable to Nigerians.
Recall that on Wednesday, Atiku challenged Tinubu’s administration to cease what he alleges is misleading the public about its stance on petrol subsidy.
He stated that despite Tinubu’s public statements regarding petrol subsidy removal, the administration has been covertly disbursing trillions of naira for petrol subsidy. Atiku indicated that subsidy payments under Tinubu’s leadership are projected to reach N5.4 trillion this year.
In response, the Presidency has refuted circulating claims that it intends to allocate funds to pay N5.4 trillion for fuel subsidy in 2024.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, yesterday, reaffirmed the conclusion of the fuel subsidy era.
But responding, Atiku accused the “Bola Tinubu administration of diverting public funds through petrol subsidy, hence the refusal of the government to reveal how much is being spent on subsidy”.
Atiku stated that the alleged covert subsidy scheme was among the factors deterring investments in the oil sector, stressing the importance of the National Assembly prioritising the investigation of the matter instead of concentrating on trivial matters.
The statement noted: “This denial lends credence that money meant for the Federation Account, which ought to be shared to states and local governments, is being diverted without any form of accountability whatsoever. There is a need for the National Assembly to get to the bottom of the matter rather than focusing on frivolous issues.
“The National Assembly needs to be alive to its responsibilities, especially in the area of oversight. Posterity will not be kind to members of the National Assembly if they continue to look the other way while daylight robbery is taking place”.
