Atiku’s subsidy plan could revive fuel queues, weaken wage payments — Yilwatda

Nentawe Yilwatda, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed concerns that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's plan to restore the petrol subsidy could lead to fuel queues and make it difficult for governments to pay the current minimum wage. Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with economic stakeholders, Yilwatda emphasized the need to consider the broader implications of the subsidy beyond its immediate impact on fuel prices.

He reminded Nigerians that the subsidy plan must be evaluated in terms of its effect on government revenue and spending, as well as on government obligations such as salaries, pensions, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Yilwatda pointed out that the removal of the subsidy had increased Federal Government allocations to states and improved the financial situation of many state governments.

Some states had previously struggled to pay salaries and pensions, but were now able to make more consistent payments. He argued that any proposal to reintroduce the subsidy should be carefully evaluated to avoid a return to the financial difficulties associated with the previous system. Linking the subsidy discussion to wage payments, Yilwatda stressed that governments need sufficient revenue to pay higher wages while maintaining investments in essential services.

He cautioned that restoring the subsidy could affect funding for education, recalling past disruptions in Nigerian universities and urging caution against policies that could reduce government capacity to fund critical sectors.