Why Governors backed subsidy removal - Benue State Governor

[emezico]

President Goodluck Jonathan will meet with governors today as part of the response to the protests that greeted the sudden removal of subsidy on petrol.
Indications also emerged yesterday that governors might not back down on their support for subsidy removal as the prospects of getting more revenue from the Federation Account is top of their consideration.

Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam gave this indication yesterday after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House. He urged the labour unions not to play politics with the removal of subsidy on petrol.

He said Nigerians should give President Jonathan a chance to deliver on the promises he made on the proceeds of the removed subsidy.

He said: "The President will be meeting with us tomorrow for us to further look at how states can key into some of the palliative measures put forward by the President because states for the first time will be getting more money.
Suswam said his state will be getting N7.6 billion allocation. "If I decide that the N7.6billion is is for building of classrooms, I can achieve that.

"That subsidy now goes to the common man who ordinarily has never benefitted from subsidy".

He said the decision on subsidy is meant to move the country from being a consuming nation to a producing nation.

"If we just want to be a consuming nation, then, we don't have a future. Over the years, that is what we have been doing. So, we need to stand up together and sacrifice so that we can guarantee the future of this country.

"These are genuine efforts to make a difference. I think that labour and well-meaning Nigerians should come together and give the President a chance instead of people playing politics with the removal of petrol subsidy. I think it is beyond that.

"The President genuinely and sincerely has promised that money will be realised from savings that will be ploughed into improving the living standards of Nigerians and I think the man deserves to be given a chance".

The Governor said the timing of the decision should not be an issue considering the diversity of the country, saying, "When is the right time? What is the substance of the issue? Is it timing?

"No, it is not timing. It is about the fact that at some point in time, the decision must be taken. In a country with 160 million people, there is no way you can reach a consensus on any issue but it is incumbent on leadership and it is imperative on leadership that decision must be taken for the interest of the country".

"Where religious leaders have been invited, where labour themselves have been engaged, different sectors and shades of the opinions have been engaged over the past three months. Should this go on open ended? No.


The Nation