{
  "id": 4444336,
  "title": "Atiku’s subsidy proposal will reverse economic gains, APC chairman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/atikus-subsidy-proposal-will-reverse-economic-gains-apc-chairman",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T15:06:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/atikus-subsidy-proposal-will-reverse-economic-gains-apc-chairman/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, cautioned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to reintroduce fuel subsidy in Nigeria could undo the economic progress made so far. In a statement issued by the APC's media and information strategy adviser, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda stated that restoring fuel subsidy would bring back fuel queues, threaten workers' wages, halt education grants for Nigerian students, and harm state revenues. The removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, led to a surge in the prices of goods and services, but the APC-led government maintains that the policy has yielded significant economic gains. Despite mixed reactions from Nigerians, Yilwatda emphasized that the subsidy discussion should move beyond political rhetoric and take into account the fiscal burden and wider consequences for citizens, including workers, education, and infrastructure. He warned that the subsidy debate should consider the cost of financing and sustaining such a policy without returning Nigeria to the fiscal pressures of the past. Yilwatda also pointed out that states previously found it difficult to pay workers' salaries and pensions, and increased federal allocations since the subsidy removal have helped improve state finances. Moreover, he cautioned against reintroducing the subsidy and returning to past fiscal pressures, as it could weaken the capacity of governments to fund education and other essential public services. The APC chairman also highlighted that the ongoing reforms were enhancing Nigeria's digital payment system, enabling Nigerians, especially young people, freelancers, and content creators, to participate in the global digital economy. He stressed the need to be cautious about policies that could undermine the progress being made in strengthening Nigeria's financial and digital ecosystem.",
  "summary": "APC Chairman warns Atiku’s proposal to reinstate fuel subsidy will reverse Nigeria’s economic gains, impacting wages, education, and fiscal stability. Read More: https://punchng.com/atikus-subsidy-proposal-will-reverse-economic-gains-apc-chairman/",
  "key_points": [
    "Atiku Abubakar's fuel subsidy proposal could reverse economic gains.",
    "Restoring subsidy would cause fuel queues and threaten workers' wages.",
    "APC warns against reintroducing subsidy, citing fiscal burden."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Atiku’s subsidy proposal will reverse economic gains, APC chairman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/atikus-subsidy-proposal-will-reverse-economic-gains-apc-chairman-4445443",
        "published": "2026-08-30T15:12:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}