The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the recent fuel price increase, describing it as devastating and unjustified.
The association called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reverse the hike, citing its harsh impact on the struggling Nigerian populace, according to PremiumTimes.
The NBA criticized the government’s decision to raise petrol prices to N1,030 per liter in Abuja and N998 per liter in Lagos. The association noted that the government’s failure to provide economic relief or implement mitigating measures has worsened the situation.
According to the NBA, the absence of tax breaks, social assistance programs, and transparent decision-making processes has signaled a disturbing trend of disregard for Nigerian welfare. The association emphasized that citizens deserve better and urged the government to prioritize their well-being.
“Such drastic adjustments to fuel prices, with no adequate mitigating measures or economic relief, signal a disturbing trend of disregard for the welfare of the Nigerian populace,” the NBA president, Afam Osigwe, said in a statement on Friday.
Mr Osigwe noted that the “much-needed tax breaks and social assistance programmes are yet to be implemented. People are groaning and life has become more difficult.”
He added, “The government’s seeming disregard for the suffering of the people is troubling. Nigerians deserve better— they deserve a government that prioritises their well-being and takes into account the real-world implications of its policies on the populace.
“We therefore call on the government to immediately take steps to reverse this increase and urgently implement measures that cushion the effect of rising fuel prices.”
He said the measures should include “investment in local refining capacity, public transportation, reduced taxation of the income of low-income earners, repair of public roads, improved security so farmers can farm and evacuate their farm products, transparent fuel pricing mechanisms, and broader economic policies aimed at reducing poverty and providing sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges.”
To alleviate the effects of the price hike, the NBA recommended measures such as investing in local refining capacity, improving public transportation, reducing taxation for low-income earners, repairing public roads, enhancing security, and implementing transparent fuel pricing mechanisms.
The NBA’s statement highlighted the need for inclusive decision-making and broader economic policies to address poverty and Nigeria’s energy challenges. The association’s call to action reflects growing concerns among Nigerians about the government’s handling of economic issues.
The development has sparked debate on the government’s economic policies and their impact on citizens. The NBA’s stance underscores the need for urgent action to address the country’s economic challenges and ensure the welfare of its populace.
Below is the full statement.
Nigerian Government Must be Sensitive to Plight of Nigerians – NBA Condemns Latest Fuel Price Hike to N1,030 Per Litre
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemns the recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to N1,030 per litre. This sharp rise, announced on Wednesday, further exacerbates the economic hardships faced by Nigerians, particularly those already struggling to make ends meet. Fuel price increases have a cascading effect on virtually every aspect of daily life in Nigeria. The costs of living, transportation, food, and other goods and services, which have been on the continuous rise, will become even more unaffordable.
On November 4, 2024, the NBA issued a statement strongly opposing the fuel price hike from N617 to N900 per litre. At that time, we highlighted the severe financial strain this imposed on the average Nigerian household, and the latest increase only compounds these difficulties. Such drastic adjustments to fuel prices, with no adequate mitigating measures or economic relief, signal a disturbing trend of disregard for the welfare of the Nigerian populace. The much-needed tax breaks and social assistance programs are yet to be implemented. People are groaning and life has become more difficult.
The Nigerian Bar Association is particularly concerned that such decisions continue to be made without transparent consultation or dialogue with relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. The government’s seeming disregard for the suffering of the people is troubling. Nigerians deserve better— they deserve a government that prioritises their well-being and takes into account the real-world implications of its policies on the populace.
We therefore call on the government to immediately take steps to reverse this increase and urgently implement measures that cushion the effect of rising fuel prices. This should include investment in local refining capacity, public transportation, reduced taxation of the income of low-income earners, repair of public roads, improved security so farmers can farm and evacuate their farm products, transparent fuel pricing mechanisms, and broader economic policies aimed at reducing poverty and providing sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges.
The NBA remains committed to advocating for policies that promote justice, fairness, and equity for all Nigerians. We reiterate our position that the government must prioritise the welfare of the people and ensure that economic policies do not deepen poverty or further marginalise the most vulnerable in society.