The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, has described the removal of fuel subsidy as the best thing to happen to Nigeria.
This is despite widespread hardship in the country, as the senator hailed President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Nigerians recall how upon his inauguration and assumption of office in May 2023, President Tinubu ended a long-standing fuel subsidy that cost the government billions of dollars a year.
Senator Sani while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, said the removal of subsidy on petroleum products was the best thing to happen to Nigeria.
“We want to be sure that what we are doing is not going to reflect negatively on Nigerians.
“What this government is doing, by virtue of the fact that we removed subsidy, removing subsidy is the best thing that has happened to this country,” he said.
The senator, who represents Niger East district in the National Assembly, argued that the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, disburses enough funds to states on a monthly basis.
He, however, blamed some states for not making good use of the allocation to address some major issues in their jurisdiction.
“Today how much are we owing? If the money that Nigeria is making today and the money that FAAC is distributing to the states, the state governments utilize that money adequately, a lot of things will go well,” he said.
TOP 10 HEADLINES IN NEWSPAPER IN NIGERIA 9th November 2024
- There are reports that the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical is set to begin fuel exports to South Africa, Angola, and Namibia. Sources said the management of the 650,000-barrel per-day capacity refinery is at advanced stages of talks with the countries to start lifting fuel.
- The Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, among other academic unions, will meet the reconstituted committee on the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with university-based unions next week. ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, made this known on Friday.
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two Chinese nationals, Wang Jiang and Wang Richard, along with Nigerians, Donatus Agupusi and Michael Agu, for attempting to export solid minerals without the necessary permits. According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, the arrest followed intelligence received from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on November 3, 2024.
- The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has argued that no law exists in the country that prohibits the prosecution of minors. Fagbemi said, given the offence with which they were charged, the recent arraignment of some protesters, including some minors, charged with treason, was not inappropriate as claimed in some quarters.
- The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, dissolved his cabinet ahead of the November 12, 2024 swearing-in of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the new governor of the state.
- Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to focus on improving Nigerians’ welfare as the country grapples with significant economic challenges. Speaking at the 2024 Women in Management, Business, and Public Service conference, Osinbajo highlighted the urgent need for social welfare programmes and accessible healthcare as Nigerians struggle with rising costs in essentials like food, transportation, and housing.
- Senator Sani Musa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, has said removal of fuel subsidy is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria. Musa stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday. He said by removing subsidy, market forces would be allowed to determine the price of the commodity.
- A new terrorist group, “Lakurawas,” also known as Mujahidin, has gained significant control in five local government areas of Sokoto State, Nigeria, collecting zakat and other levies from communities, sources have revealed.
- Indications emerged during the week that the National Judicial Council (NJC) headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun is set to hold a crucial meeting anytime soon to consider, among others, reports of its several committees that investigated allegations of misconducts against several serving judicial officers in the country.
- Canada has announced that it will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists. The new guidelines, released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), empower immigration officers to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments.
