PENGASSAN Urges FG To Move Beyond Fuel Subsidy Debate

PENGASSAN Urges FG To Move Beyond Fuel Subsidy Debate

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN has urged the Federal Government to move beyond debates over fuel subsidy removal and focus on ensuring that Nigerians benefit from the policy. PENGASSAN President, Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, made the call while appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. Olabiyi-Agoro said the focus should no longer be solely on whether fuel subsidy removal was the right decision, but on how the gains from the policy can translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of Nigerians. He stressed the need for the government to ensure that the benefits of subsidy removal are reflected in better living conditions, stronger economic opportunities and improved welfare for citizens. According to him, Nigerians should be able to see tangible results from the government’s economic policies rather than continue to bear the burden of rising costs without corresponding benefits. The PENGASSAN president’s comments come amid ongoing concerns over the impact of fuel subsidy removal on transportation costs, food prices, household expenses and the wider cost of living. Since the removal of the petrol subsidy, the government has maintained that the policy was necessary to reduce the financial burden of subsidising fuel and redirect public funds towards development and social interventions. However, labour groups and other stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger measures to cushion the effects of the policy on Nigerians. PENGASSAN’s latest position adds to calls for the government to demonstrate how savings and other economic gains associated with subsidy reforms are being deployed to improve the welfare of citizens. Olabiyi-Agoro urged policymakers to focus on delivering the promised benefits of economic reforms and ensuring that Nigerians ultimately experience improvements in their standard of living.