Subsidy: FG Dismisses April Date Claims

The Federal Government has debunked claims of stating “April ‘’ as the proposed month for oil subsidy removal.

Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu, Minister for Labour and Productivity, cleared the air on the date in an interview with newsmen  in Abuja.

Wogu who said the Federal Government never made such pronouncement in all its deliberations on the policy, urged Nigerians to desist from peddling imaginary rumours that could incite negative actions against government.

“There was no such government pronouncement; I don’t know where that news crawled into the national psyche, but it was alluded that that statement was made by the Minister of Finance, but she has come out outrightly to say: ‘I did not make that statement’

“So, I believe that with that statement from the Minister of Finance, people should put it to rest; simply, that statement was not made.

“In all our interactions, I did not hear her make that statement; it is not a statement of fact or a statement of truth.’’

Wogu called for patience and sacrifice from Nigerians on the short-term effects of the fuel subsidy withdrawal.

He listed the benefits accruable from government’s Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE) announced to bring relief, to include job creation, effective transportation, and provision of health care and other social infrastructure.

He assured Nigerians that if all the palliatives were put in place, fuel subsidy removal would not be resorted to in the future.

“If at the end of this administration, we are able to implement all the president and his team said we would do, I don’t see why somebody will reintroduce subsidy issue again.

“But if it is done, then it will not be this administration because this administration will not go into policy somersault for reasons that it is not convinced of.’’

The minister also called for dialogue to resolve the on-going national strike.