Tinubu scraps under-fire N8000 palliative, revisits minimum wage review

Federal Government has scrapped plans to disburse a monthly cash of N8,000 to 12 million households in the country as part of measures in place to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on imported petroleum products effected by the President Bola Tinubu administration since May 29, this year.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, Tuesday, said the decision follows wide criticisms which had trailed the announcement of the N8, 000 disbursements.

In return, the Federal Government is set to revisit the issue of minimum wage clamoured by the Organised Labour , which had called for increment in the N30,000 statute for public workers.

According to Alake, concerns over the ability of the cash distribution to meet the administration’s goal of supporting the poor in the country grappling with the resultant price spike following the termination of the corrupt subsidy regime informed the review of the mode of palliative to be implemented.

Alake said the administration is set to increase the country’s minimum wage, a longstanding demand of Labour Unions. The increment is expected to jack up the earnings of millions of Nigerians and provide succour amid the palpable rise in the cost of living.

Additionally, the FG will also distribute key commodities targeted at the poor to offer relief and ensure their survival as the country confronts the expected shocks widely predicted to follow the termination of the subsidy regime which burdened the country’s finances and starved other important sectors such as health, education and infrastructure of required funds to grow and develop.

“You will agree with me that it has become part of the culture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to constantly dialogue with Nigerians who voted him into office. The President covenanted with Nigerians that their welfare and security will be topmost in the Renewed Hope Agenda of his government.

“In the last few days, the conventional and new media platforms have become awash with stories of the government intending to embark on conditional cash transfer to vulnerable households mostly affected by the painful but necessary decision to remove subsidy from petrol.

“The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal.

“A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision. Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped, government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.

“While it should be noted that cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a listening leader who has vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme, the President has directed as follows:-

“That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programmed envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.

“That the whole gamut of palliative package of government be unveiled to Nigerians.

“Immediate release of fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households respectively in all the 36 states and the FCT. 

“The President further assures Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of subsidy regime will be judiciously utilised. The beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

“President Bola Tinubu has promised to always prioritize the wellbeing of Nigerians and he is irrevocably committed to the vow. A number of decisions taken so far by this Administration have buttressed this stance.

“You will recall that the President took a similar decision after listening to complaints from the business community/stakeholders about burdensome taxes, particularly multiplicity of taxes they are made to experience. This warranted the signing of four (4) Executive Orders cancelling some classes of taxes, while suspending the implementation dates of others.

“In addition, the President has also set up a Tax Reform/Fiscal Policy Committee to bring up recommendations that will engender a wholesome fiscal environment for the country and remove anti-business barriers.

“I wish to assure Nigerians that President Tinubu will continue to be a listening leader whose ears will not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry. The President believes government exists to cater for the interest of the people and he has demonstrated this so clearly,” the statement read in full.