President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives seeking the sum of N500 billion for palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) popularly known as petrol.
Tinubu in the letter also sought an amendment to the 2022 supplementary appropriation Act which will allow the Federal Government (FG) to source the money from the 2022 supplementary Appropriation Act of N819.5 billion.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the president’s letter during plenary on Wednesday.
“I write to request the approval of the House of Representatives for an amendment of the 2022 appropriation act in accordance with the law,” Tinubu said.
“The request has become necessary in other to source for funds to provide necessary palliatives to cushion the effect of the recent removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.
“The sum of N500 billion only has been extracted from the 2022 appropriation act of N819.536 for the provision of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
“I expect that the House will speedily consider the request.”
Abbas also said that the lawmakers would consider Tinubu’s request at plenary on Thursday.
Labour unions, groups and individuals have urged the FG and 36 state governments to urgently look into the need for palliatives to ameliorate and cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech as president on May 29, 2023.
