UPDATE: Health Workers Make Eight Demands From Tinubu

Under the direction of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), health professionals have requested President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to postpone the elimination of fuel subsidies in Nigeria.

In response to the current condition of affairs, the association issued a statement on Tuesday that was signed by Dr. Sofiri Starson Peterside Jr., the association’s national president, and Dr. Enobong Akpan, the association’s secretary general. The statement listed eight demands for the incumbent government.

Newsmen recalls that President Tinubu stated that there was no funding for fuel subsidies in the year’s budget during his inaugural speech last month. So the practice is no longer used. He claimed that the depletion of resources made it impossible for the subsidies to continue justifying its rising expenses.

Tell Us Those Collecting Fuel Subsidies – NLC To Tinubu Govt

However, Tinubu pledged to repurpose the cash for better investments in public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment, which would significantly enhance the lives of millions of people.

However, in order to prevent the impending multisectoral industrial discord that could bring about the nation of Nigeria collapse, NAGGMDP requested the Federal Government to promptly postpone the elimination of gasoline subsidies and return to the original pump price of PMS.

The employees’ association also urged the current administration to take action to prevent crude oil theft, safeguard the nation’s borders, and reduce leaks in the oil and gas industry.

The NAGGMDP issued the following statement outlining their eight requests for the Tinubu administration:

“That we strongly align in solidarity with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and call on the Federal Government to urgently suspend the removal of fuel subsidy and revert to the old pump price of PMS to avert the looming multisectoral industrial disharmony that may grind the country to a halt.

UPDATE: Fuel Subsidy Swallowed $10bn In 2022 Alone – Shettima

“That our refineries should be revamped to functional capacity as soon as possible, and licenses should be given for the establishment of more refineries to encourage local production of Petroleum products.

“The Federal Government should institute measures to stop crude oil theft, secure our borders and stop leakages within the oil and gas sector.

“There should be a committee set up by the Federal Government to audit the subsidy regime since its inception and the use of funds recurrently allocated for the repair of our refineries and that the culprits brought to book.

“There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to strengthen healthcare financing by ensuring at least 15% budgetary allocation to the health sector. There is also a need to achieve universal health coverage through primary healthcare and National/State health insurance schemes across the country in order to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and guarantee accessible and affordable healthcare.

JUST IN: Tinubu Currently Meeting With Service Chiefs

NAGGMDP also urged the Federal Government to set up a robust economic team that will establish cushioning measures to protect citizens when the subsidy is eventually removed.

It insisted that priority should be given to measures to address the country’s widespread hunger and poverty. “They should also bring on palliative board measures to mitigate the impact of the eventual subsidy removal on citizens, especially those on low incomes,” the workers’ association added, stressing that the Federal Government, in the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice, should take measures to cut down the cost of governance by the Executive and the National Assembly, reduce borrowing, and channel such funds to other critical sectors of the economy, including minimum wage increase.

“The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration should demonstrate empathy to the citizens of this country by doing what is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian people,” the statement added.

 

Follow us on Facebook