By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Dr. Abdulkareem Onakoya, a renowned scholar and lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin (Epe Campus), has reiterated his call for urgent palliatives to cushion the effects of the recent removal of fuel subsidy. Dr. Onakoya made this plea during a media parley where he was honored by Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), and Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, the Executive Secretary of the Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria (BON).
The discussions at the parley delved into the socio-economic challenges sparked by the recent “total withdrawal” of the fuel subsidy, as announced by President Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inaugural address. Dr. Onakoya and the hosts engaged in a constructive exchange of perspectives, emphasizing the urgent need for palliatives to alleviate the impact on the general populace.
All parties involved agreed on the critical necessity of implementing immediate measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the fuel subsidy removal. They emphasized that swift action was required to provide relief to the millions of Nigerians who would bear the brunt of the decision.
Dr. Onakoya, while addressing the gathering, expressed his concern about the planned strike by labor unions. He urged the unions to reconsider their course of action, allowing the government sufficient time to formulate and implement plans to address the plight of the over 170 million Nigerians living below the poverty line.
Furthermore, the participants suggested that the government should also focus on other crucial sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and social affairs to align with the current state of the economy. They emphasized the importance of temporarily suspending politicking to prioritize effective governance and address the pressing socio-economic challenges facing the nation.