The House of Representatives has passed a bill to make provision for N500b palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
The bill passed through both second and third readings after clause by clause consideration by the Committee of Supply, Chaired by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas at plenary on Thursday.
The amendment bill is sequel to a request by President Bola Tinubu to the House on Wednesday to extract N500b from the 2022 supplementary budget to provide palliatives for subsidy removal.
The legislation was titled “A Bill for an Act to Authorize the issuance of the sum of (N500, 000, 000, 000.00) five hundred billion, Naira, only from the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations of (N819, 536, 937, 815.00) only for the provisions of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal”.
The Leader of the House, Professor Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) moved that the bill be read for the second time and he was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers).
Leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Ihonvbere said, since the removal of fuel subsidy, there have been calls on the government to provide some measures to cushion the effects.
He said many members have also moved motions calling for the provision of palliatives and the government has listened to the concerns the executive bill was in response to the cries of the people.
“In a situation where policies are taken leading to expected and unexpected consequences, government has to find means to address the challenges brought by the policy. With the president’s request for funds, Nigerians are waiting to hear from the parliament with so much expectations.
