By Caleb Ishaya and Mariyah Adamu, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday said he had no regret on fuel subsidy removal.
Tinubu, stated this last night at his first presidential media chat, in Lagos.
He said fuel subsidy removal was necessary to prevent the country from bankruptcy.
Also President Tinubu vowed not to withdraw the tax reform bills but promises to engage in a horse trading , persuasion with the National Assembly members to see reasons with you. “This is where Democracy will be tested” , the president said.
On the palpable fear among Nigerians and regions of the Federation Over the merits and demerits of the bills and the States and regions on vantage positions.
In this vein, the president said, “It is part of the fear that is unnecessary. No matter how you cut it or slice it in segments, you still have to meet the bills.
He said , no going back on tax reform because we can’t be doing the same thing over and over again. Rather, the tax will create wealth and even development among the federated unit. Why are some people afraid? I have come to serve you, give me the chance to do so….let me serve, and see if the country will not improve. I asked for this job and I need your support.. . President took a jibe at the media team made of some selected media senior journalists , by asking them to send the message of hope and better Nigeria , patience and trust in his policies and programmes.
“So, cut your cloth according to your size. It is what we have to manage. Management is the issue, and we have no choice but to pull the brakes. Otherwise, we were headed for slippery slopes”.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that Tinubu had, during his inauguration as president on May 29, 2023, announced the immediate removal of fuel subsidy, with the price of premium motor spirit, PMS, experiencing steady increase since then.
However, the price has started coming down gradually, particularly with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and Dangote Refinery announcing downward review of the price of the commodity.
The president said that with fuel subsidy, the country was spending what was meant for future generations. But today, his government has knocked off Ways and Means”, settle foreign airlines etcetera.
He was emphatic that the fuel subsidy removal was necessary to prevent smugglers from taking what belonged to Nigerians.
“There is no way you will give out fuel and allow the entire neighbouring countries enjoy it like father Christmas”, Tinubu said.
Furthermore, Tinubu, while answering questions during the presidential media chat said that the tax reform introduced by his administration is here to stay, adding that there is no going back on the reform bills currently before both houses of the National Assembly.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the bills are: Nigeria Tax Bill, NTB, 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, NTAB,
Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, NRSEB, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, JRBEB.
NTB will lead to the repeal of 11 laws, while 13 other laws will experience consequential amendments.
According to the president “tax reform is here to stay, we cannot just continue to do what we were doing yester years in today’s economy. We cannot retool this economy with the old broken books, and I believe I have that capacity that is why I went into the race.
“I am focused on what Nigeria needs and what I must do for Nigerians , it is not just going to be el dorado for everybody, but the new dawn is here, I am convinced, and you should be convinced”, he said.
It would be recalled that despite the federal government’s instance of the desirability of the tax reform, Nigerians remain sharply divided on the subject.
However, President Tinubu reassured Nigerians of better and improved living conditions in 2025 and urged them to support his policies and programmes to enable his administration serve the country very well for the citizens’ gains. The media chat was the first since he assumed office 18 months ago.
