President Bola Tinubu attacks hardship with N500bn palliatives

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu yesterday, unveiled measures to cushion the effects of the economic downturn, caused by fuel subsidy removal, in the country, telling Nigerians he understood the hardship and came to help, not to hurt them.

He, however, approved N100 billion for the procurement of 3000 20-seater buses fueled by Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, to ease the high cost of transportation caused by fuel subsidy removal.

The President also said his administration would energise micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth with N125 billion.

He said of the sum, N50 billion would be spent on conditional grants to one million nano businesses between now and March 2024, explaining that the government’s target was to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country

As he was being sworn-in on May 29, President Tinubu implemented full removal of fuel subsidy, leading to hike in fuel price from N200 to between N567 and N617 per litre across the country.

He also abolished multiple exchange rates, forcing the dollar to exchange for over N850 at the black market.

It was less than N461 to a Dollar in May 2023.

The developments took inflation from 22.41 per cent in May to 22.79 per cent in June, with attendant gnashing of teeth among most Nigerians, especially the poor.

In a 41-point, 1794-word national broadcast on the current economic challenges, yesterday, Tinubu assured Nigerians that things would get better soon.

Titled: “After Darkness Comes the Glorious Dawn,” Tinubu in the broadcast said to reform the economy for long-term good, fuel subsidy and multiple exchange rates had to go.

Tinubu, who disclosed that Nigeria had saved N1 trillion from subsidy removal in two months, however, said “We are also monitoring the effects of the exchange rate and inflation on gasoline prices. If and when necessary, we will intervene.”

Fuel subsidy no longer beneficial

Marshalling reasons for the policy measures he had taken to “combat the serious economic challenges this nation has long faced” so that “you see and hopefully will share my vision regarding the journey to a better, more productive economy for our beloved country,” Tinubu told Nigerians:

“For several years, I have consistently maintained the position that the fuel subsidy had to go. This once beneficial measure had outlived its usefulness. The subsidy cost us trillions of naira yearly.

‘’Such a vast sum of money would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national security. Instead, it was being funnelled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals.

“This group had amassed so much wealth and power that they became a serious threat to the fairness of our economy and the integrity of our democratic governance.

‘’To be blunt, Nigeria could never become the society it was intended to be as long as such small, powerful yet unelected groups hold enormous influence over our political economy and the institutions that govern it.
“The whims of the few should never hold dominant sway over the hopes and aspirations of the many. If we are to be a democracy, the people and not the power of money must be sovereign.

“The preceding administration saw this looming danger as well. Indeed, it made no provision in the 2023 Appropriations for subsidy after June this year. Removal of this once helpful device that had transformed into a millstone around the country’s neck had become inevitable.

“Also, the multiple exchange rate system that had been established became nothing but a highway of currency speculation. It diverted money that should have been used to create jobs, build factories and businesses for millions of people.

‘’Our national wealth was doled on favourable terms to a handful of people who have been made filthy rich simply by moving money from one hand to another. This too was extremely unfair.

“It also compounded the threat that the illicit and mass accumulation of money posed to the future of our democratic system and its economy.

“I had promised to reform the economy for the long-term good by fighting the major imbalances that had plagued our economy. Ending the subsidy and the preferential exchange rate system was key to this fight. This fight is to define the fate and future of our nation. Much is in the balance.

“Thus, the defects in our economy immensely profited a tiny elite you might call them. As we move to fight the flaws in the economy, the people who grow rich from them, predictably, will fight back through every means necessary.

“Our economy is going through a tough patch and you are being hurt by it. The cost of fuel has gone up. Food and other prices have followed it. Households and businesses struggle. Things seem anxious and uncertain.

‘’I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is none. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love.

The palliatives

“What I can offer in the immediate future is to reduce the burden our current economic situation has imposed on all of us, especially on businesses, the working class and the most vulnerable among us.

“Already, the Federal Government is working closely with states and local governments to implement interventions that will cushion the pains of our people across socio-economic brackets.

“Earlier this month, I signed four Executive Orders in keeping with my electoral promise to address unfriendly fiscal policies and multiple taxes that are stifling the business environment.

‘’These Executive Orders on suspension and deferred commencement of some taxes will provide the necessary buffers and headroom to businesses in the manufacturing sector to continue to thrive and expand.

“To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good-paying jobs, we are going to spend N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024. Our objective is to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity.

‘’Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1billion credit at 9% per annum, with a maximum of 60 months repayment for long-term loans and 12 months for working capital.

“Our administration recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth. We are going to energise this very important sector with N125 billion.

“Out of the sum, we will spend N50 billion on conditional grants to one million nano businesses between now and March 2024. Our target is to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.

“Ultimately, this programme will further drive financial inclusion by onboarding beneficiaries into the formal banking system. In like manner, we will fund 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups with N75 billion.

‘’Under this scheme, each enterprise promoter will be able to get between N500,000 and N1 million at 9% interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months.

“To further ensure that prices of food items remain affordable, we have had a multi-stakeholder engagement with various farmers’ associations and operators within the agricultural value chain.

Immediate measures

“In the short and immediate terms, we will ensure staple foods are available and affordable. To this end, I have ordered the release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices.

‘’We are also providing 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers who are committed to our food security agenda.

“Our plan to support the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice remains on course. To be specific, N200 billion out of the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly will be disbursed as follows: *Our administration will invest N50 billion each to cultivate 150,000 hectares of rice and maize, and *N50 billion each will also be earmarked to cultivate 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava.

“This expansive agricultural programme will be implemented targeting small-holder farmers and leveraging large-scale private sector players in the agric business with a strong performance record.

“In this regard, the expertise of Development Finance Institutions, commercial banks and microfinance banks will be tapped into to develop a viable and appropriate transaction structure for all stakeholders.

“I made a solemn pledge to work for you. How to improve your welfare and living condition is of paramount importance to me and it’s the only thing that keeps me up day and night.

“It is in light of this that I approved the Infrastructure Support Fund for the States. This new Infrastructure Fund will enable States to intervene and invest in critical areas and bring relief to many of the pain points as well as revamp our decaying healthcare and educational Infrastructure.

“The fund will also bring improvements to rural access roads to ease evacuation of farm produce to markets. With the fund, our states will become more competitive and on a stronger financial footing to deliver economic prosperity to Nigerians.

3000 CNG buses

“Part of our programme is to roll out buses across the states and local governments for mass transit at a much more affordable rate. We have made provision to invest N100 billion between now and March 2024 to acquire 3000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses.

“These buses will be shared with major transportation companies in the states, using the intensity of travel per capita. Participating transport companies will be able to access credit under this facility at 9% per annum with 60 months repayment period.

“In the same vein, we are also working in collaboration with the Labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers. I want to tell our workers this: your salary review is coming.
“Once we agree on the new minimum wage and general upward review, we will make budget provision for it for immediate implementation.”

Look beyond temporary pains

Saluting many private employers in the Organised Private Sector who have already implemented general salary reviews for employees, the President continued: “This period may be hard on us and there is no doubt about it that it is tough on us. But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All of our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work.

“Sadly, there was an unavoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online. However, we are swiftly closing the time gap. I plead with you to please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being.

“We will get out of this turbulence. And, due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.

“In a little over two months, we have saved over a trillion Naira that would have been squandered on the unproductive fuel subsidy which only benefitted smugglers and fraudsters. That money will now be used more directly and more beneficially for you and your families.

“For example, we shall fulfil our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon his or her education because of lack of money.

“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On this principle, we shall never falter. We are also monitoring the effects of the exchange rate and inflation on gasoline prices. If and when necessary, we will intervene.

“I assure you my fellow countrymen and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn.”