The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is dedicated to improving their lives, not making them more difficult.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris emphasized this while addressing the Diplomatic Community.
Idris highlighted that Tinubu assumed office during a challenging period in Nigeria’s history, with 97% of revenue spent on debt service, widespread poverty, unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, and insecurity, according to Daily Post.
To address these issues, the administration implemented reforms, including abolishing the fuel subsidy to redirect funds towards critical sectors like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.
The minister acknowledged that these decisions would cause transitional pains but assured that comprehensive intervention programs are being implemented to cushion the effects and bring relief to Nigerians.
He emphasized the government’s determination to fulfill its promises and improve citizens’ well-being.
“It is important to kick off on this note: that President Tinubu did not come to office to cause hardship or make life difficult for Nigerians.
“He has come to office with bold solutions to historical problems; with the determination to correct many of the poor policies and dysfunctional choices that have held us back as a nation for decades.
“The President assumed office during one of Nigeria’s most challenging periods in its history, where the country was spending 97% of all its revenue on debt service; coupled with widespread poverty, rising unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, and insecurity.
“Faced with these daunting realities, the administration took decisive action and implemented long-overdue reforms to save the economy from collapse.
“For decades, the costly, wasteful and unsustainable fuel subsidy regime had denied Nigeria the opportunity to invest in critical infrastructure, social service, and the welfare of its citizens.
“The President, therefore, had to take a very painful decision to abolish the fuel subsidy and redirect the funds towards critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security, which directly impact citizens’ well-being and the development of the country,” he said.
The minister added, “The President was not under any illusion that the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and the harmonization of foreign exchange rates would not come with some transitional pains.
“This informed the decision of the Federal Government to design comprehensive intervention programmes to cushion the transitional pains.
“We have been very determined about ensuring that these interventions are fully implemented, and bring the intended relief to Nigerians.”
