Prior to the request for palliatives, Tinubu had said that his administration would channel the funds meant for subsidy into public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that will better the lives of millions of Nigerians.
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The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, received a communication from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking an amendment to the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act to accommodate N500 billion for the provision of palliatives for Nigerians.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read the President’s letter on the floor of the House during plenary.
In his letter, Tinubu said that the request was necessary to enable the government to provide palliatives for Nigerians to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.
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“I write to request for the amendment of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act. The request became necessary, among other things, to source for funds to provide necessary palliatives to mitigate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.
Thus, the sum of N500 billion only has been extracted from the 2022 supplementary Appropriation Act of N819 billion, 536 million, 937 thousand 803 naira only for the provisions of palliatives for Nigerians to cushion the effects of subsidy removal,” Tinubu said.
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The President urged the House to give his request “expeditious” consideration and approval to enable his administration to provide palliatives for Nigerians.
Speaker Abbas subsequently announced that the House would begin the consideration of the request at plenary on Thursday.
Recall that President Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech on 29th May 2023.
