President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech has prompted a response from PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku claimed that Tinubu failed to declare an increase in the minimum wage following the devaluation of the naira as a result of the withdrawal of the petrol subsidy in a statement made through his media assistant Phrank Shaibu.
He said that Tinubu put the waggon before the horse by not raising the wage, as seen by his justification.
The president was exhorted by Atiku to cease finding reasons for his shortcomings.
UPDATE: Fuel Subsidy Swallowed $10bn In 2022 Alone – Shettima
According to him, “Many workers were hopeful that minimum wage would be announced today. However, what Tinubu decided to do was to add an allowance of N25,000 ($25) to the lowest paid workers for six months only. This is a man who is not in sync with the current realities that the people are living in.
“He claimed he refused to increase the minimum wage in order not to worsen the inflation rate. If he cared so much about the inflation rate, he ought to have planned properly before removing the petrol subsidy and forcing the Central Bank to embark on a failed exchange rate unification policy which has not been backed by a corresponding boost in exports.
In other words, Tinubu put the cart before the horse and is now trying to justify his own incompetence after the horse trampled on the waggon. This is unacceptable.
While contending that the elimination of gasoline subsidies was not an accomplishment, Atiku chastised Tinubu for referring to himself as an achiever and for claiming that subsidies should have been eliminated sooner.
If Tinubu Didn’t Remove Fuel Subsidy, This Is What Would Have Happened – Akpabio
When the Goodluck Jonathan administration chose to eliminate subsidies in 2012, he pointed out that the President was one of the most vocal opponents.
“Tinubu should bury his face in shame for criticising former presidents for retaining subsidies. Here is a man who described petrol increase back in January 2012 as ‘Jonathan tax’ when subsidy was removed at the time.
“Tinubu told Jonathan to go after the oil thieves rather than Nigerians. Let Tinubu also be brave enough to expose and prosecute the so-called subsidy thieves he loves to reference in every speech. Let Tinubu also be man enough to apologise for sponsoring protests in Lagos back in 2012 over subsidy,” he added.
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