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Subsidy Removal: ‘I Feel Your Pain, Your Sacrifice Won’t Be In Vain’, Tinubu Tells Nigerians

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President Bola Tinubu on Monday sympathised with Nigerians over the pains of the recent subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol. 

In his 2023 Democracy Day speech on June 12, the President said his decision to remove fuel subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023 is to save Nigeria country from going under and take the country’s resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.

He asked Nigerians to sacrifice a little more for the survival of the country.

Democracy Day is celebrated yearly on June 12 in honour of the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and other heroes of democracy.

Addressing Nigerians on Monday, Tinubu said, “The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people.

“To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he (MKO Abiola) christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought-out social and economic policies.

“It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich.

“I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.

“Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.”

From N184/Litre To Over N500

The President during his inaugural speech on May 29 at the Eagle Square in Abuja had announced the removal of subsidy payment on petrol. The President said that the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari did not make provisions for subsidy in the 2023 budget beyond June.

Many Nigerians had expected that the new price regime would come into effect by July 1 but almost immediately after the presidential pronouncement, queues resurfaced at filling stations across the country even as retail outlets hoard the product and increase prices.

Already, a litre of petrol is being sold at over N500 across the country following the price adjustment by the Nigerian National Petrol Company (NNPC) Limited and the presidential pronouncement on subsidy removal.

Fuel queues have since surged for the vital commodity, compounding the traffic situation in parts of the country, even as transportation costs skyrocket to more than 100% increment.

The Organised Labour had resolved to embark on a nationwide strike beginning Wednesday but was restrained by a court order of Monday, June 5, 2023. The Organised Labour subsequently shelved its planned strike after a meeting with the Federal Government last week.

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Benue moves to control private school fees; NAPPS kick

Dr Terna Francis, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB), issued the warning while responding to criticism from the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), which accused the board of heavy-handed regulation.

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• Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia

The Benue State Government has directed private school owners against charging excessive school fees.

The directive forms part of broader reforms aimed at improving standards and ensuring fairness in the education sector.

Dr. Terna Francis, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB), issued the warning while responding to criticism from the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), which accused the board of heavy-handed regulation.

Francis maintained that fee control is a legal requirement tied to the school approval process.

He said schools must seek government clearance before adjusting fees to prevent arbitrary increases.

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ICPC Appoints Okesanjo Resident Consultant for Strategy, Communications

Mrs Okesanjo brings over 16 years of combined experience in the public and private sectors to the role.

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•Mrs Temilade Aderemi Okesanjo

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has appointed Mrs Temilade Aderemi Okesanjo as Resident Consultant (Strategy and Communications).

ICPC Spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey,said that the appointment, which takes immediate effect, marks the first time Strategy has been formally integrated into a Resident Consultant portfolio at the Commission, underscoring ICPC’s evolving forward-looking approach to prevention, institutional integrity, and impact-driven governance.

He emphasised that the new role is designed to strengthen the systematic integration of strategy into ICPC’s day-to-day activities, while ensuring that the Commission’s priorities and interventions are clearly articulated and responsibly communicated to stakeholders and the public.

Mrs Okesanjo will support the Commission’s work in two core areas.

On Strategy, she will help ensure that ICPC’s priorities, engagements, and interventions are deliberate, coherent, and fully aligned with its statutory mandate.

On Communications, she will drive clarity, consistency, and credibility in how these priorities are conveyed, with a view to building trust and sustaining public confidence.

Mrs Okesanjo brings over 16 years of combined experience in the public and private sectors to the role.

She began her career in the financial services industry at Ecobank Nigeria before moving into public service, where she served in the Ministry of Transportation as well as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

In 2018, she resigned from the civil service to establish Woodford Consulting Company, through which she has led high-level strategy and implementation advisory engagements for public sector institutions and development-focused organisations.

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Four beheaded in Ebonyi communal clashes

Local sources linked the attack to a decades-long land dispute between Oso Edda in Edda Local Government Area and Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state.

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Many residents are feared dead while several others have been abducted following a deadly attack on Okporojo Community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The State Commissioner for Internal Security, Chief Etta Ude, confirmed the incident and said security had been reinforced in the affected area to prevent escalations.

It was gathered that the attack occurred on Thursday, when unidentified armed men stormed the community, shooting sporadically and setting houses ablaze.

Community sources claimed that at least four persons were beheaded during the assault, with the attackers reportedly taking away the severed heads.

Many other residents were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries, while an unspecified number remain missing.

A viral video circulating on social media showed houses engulfed in flames as distressed residents cried out for help, appealing to the Ebonyi State Government and security agencies to urgently intervene.

Local sources linked the attack to a decades-long land dispute between Oso Edda in Edda Local Government Area and Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state.

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