Governor Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu
The chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Governor Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu, is canvassing that if fuel subsidy is restored after negotiations with labour, states should henceforth pay according to consumption levels.
This means Lagos, which consumes an estimated 60 per cent of petrol in Nigeria, would pay most of the N1.3 trillion subsidy, even though its share from deregulation savings is estimated at a mere N10 billion.
Aliyu, who was part of the negotiating team yesterday, was said to have argued that Northern governors were not in favour of the old subsidy payment regime which was usually deducted from the federation account before allocations were shared.
According to sources at the meeting, Aliyu said there were not many cars in Northern Nigeria and it would not be equitable for all the states to contribute to the subsidy fund equally when consumption is mainly in the South.
Aliyu's argument may re-ignite the debate about fiscal federalism, as Lagos State has also been canvassing that the Value-added Tax (VAT), most of which is generated by consumption in Lagos, should not be shared among all the states of the federation.
In the meantime, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has inaugurated 100 Hiace Toyota buses to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.
He also directed commercial transporters to revert to the old transport fares before the subsidy removal.
He set up a three-man palliatives committee on the removal of fuel subsidy with Mr G. O. Onosode as chairman, as wellas Chief Philip Asiodu and Mrs. Elizabeth Adegite as members with the mandate to monitor the implementation of the proceeds from subsidy removal in the state.
Uduaghan said: “l appeal to transport operators in the state mass transit scheme to revert back to the old fares charged before the removal of fuel subsidy as my administration will subsidise the fares for the next six months.
“In support of the operations of these vehicles and to further reduce the pressure of the recent transport fare adjustment on commuters. The state government has decided to subsidise passengers fares on the vehicles”.
He promised that the state government would take care of the increase that has occurred after the removal of fuel subsidy for the benefit of Delta citizens.
Governor Uduaghan stated that his administration would take delivery of 50-seater Marcopolo buses and 130 boats for the riverine communities in the next few weeks as palliative measures.
“So far we have a total of 100 salon cars for taxis and over 500 buses in the scheme deployed to various areas of the state to improve on the transport sector and reduce the stress associated with daily movement of Deltans.”
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When I read articles like the one here, where a state governor who is supposed to be a leader says that states should pay subsidy for the fuel they use, then one begins to understand why there is stunted progress in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteNigeria is a federation and not a confederation!!! So if the fuel is imported by the federal government and distributed to states, the right thing to do is for the federal government to pay the subsidy. If Gov Mu'azu feels that states should pay subsidy on the fuel they use, then states should import the fuel they use... In fact, while still on the topic, states should be responsible for generating their own revenue so that people like the Gov Mu'azu will understand that the confederation 'they' are looking for will be more than welcome by southerners as it will finally give us the opportunity to control our resources.
lol, im sure he wasn't thinking that way when he made the suggestion. if you say states should start controlling their own resources, he will be the first to cry wolf
ReplyDeleteHe obviously wasn't thinking when he made that comment. How many Yoruba indegenous to lagos are living in Lagos? Is not we Northerners who for our government inability to provide the peaceful and conducive atmosphere for existence and progress that throng Lagos? this is unlike a very well exposed person like Gov Aliyu
ReplyDeletethis northern leaders no nothing. the north contribution to nigerian economy is nothing but trouble. it is indeed the northern past leaders that has brought us into all this mess any. i will love to see nigeria operate has a confederate state. empower the states the states are the engine of growth anyways. judging from united states of america system of government. i say northern fools bring it on. south-south, south-east, south-west and south central is ready. ever ready
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