Ayomide Awe
The Talakawa Parliament, a human rights organisation based in Edo State, has rejected the Federal Government’s planned 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited filling stations, describing the measure as inadequate and incapable of addressing the worsening economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
The group instead demanded the immediate restoration of the petrol subsidy regime, arguing that a temporary reduction in the pump price would amount to another short-term palliative while millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with rising transportation costs, food prices, inflation, unemployment and declining purchasing power.
The demand was contained in a statement signed by the organisation’s representative, Marxist Kola Edokpayi, on Thursday, hours after the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the planned intervention.
Oyedele had announced that the Federal Government would introduce a 30-day discount on petrol sold at NNPCL stations, with priority given to public transport operators.
He also disclosed that the government was working towards a “negotiated landing cost” for petrol, which would be reviewed monthly.
But the Talakawa Parliament dismissed the proposed discount as inadequate, insisting that Nigerians needed a sustainable solution to the economic consequences of the petrol subsidy removal.
“We do not need a 30-day petrol discount — return to the subsidy regime now,” the group declared.
According to the organisation, the proposed intervention would provide only temporary relief without addressing what it described as the fundamental causes of the economic crisis.
It said the removal of the subsidy had placed an “unbearable burden” on workers, students, pensioners, traders, farmers, small business owners and other vulnerable Nigerians.
The group said the increase in petrol prices had triggered higher transportation costs and contributed to increased prices of essential goods and services.
“Families are struggling to afford daily meals, workers are spending a significant portion of their wages on transportation, and small businesses are being forced to reduce their operations or shut down entirely because of the rising cost of fuel and electricity,” it said.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to move away from what it described as temporary palliatives and introduce policies capable of providing sustained economic relief.
“Government must listen to the people and adopt policies that genuinely improve their lives rather than offer short-term palliatives that provide temporary relief while leaving the underlying crisis unresolved,” the group said.
The Talakawa Parliament also called for comprehensive and transparent intervention in the petroleum sector, insisting that any subsidy arrangement must be properly monitored to prevent alleged corruption, diversion and exploitation by private interests.
It further demanded measures to tackle what it described as corruption, wasteful government spending and alleged mismanagement of public resources.
The group maintained that affordable petrol remained critical to the welfare of Nigerians and the stability of the wider economy, noting that increases in fuel prices have far-reaching consequences for transportation, food production, manufacturing and household expenses.
It stressed that its demand for subsidy restoration was not politically motivated but based on what it described as the economic realities confronting Nigerians.
“It is an independent demand for the immediate restoration of petrol subsidy and meaningful relief for the Nigerian people,” it said.
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