The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, says the Federal Government will do away with Fuel subsidy by June 2023.
The Minister made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja, during a press conference to mark the end of the 28th National Economic Summit (NES).
According to The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), fuel subsidy gulped N2.565 trillion between January and August 2022.
Also, in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the Federal Government proposed to spend N3.3 trillion on fuel subsidy between January and June 2023.
Ahmed said that the removal of fuel subsidy is part of the Federal Government’s medium-term plan in the budget.
“We have to do it by systematically informing the citizens about the size and the quantum of the fuel subsidy.
She, however, said that the challenge is how to go about removing the subsidy.
“First, we have to engage. We have already engaged with the states and the public before it was approved as part of the medium-term plan.
“In our case, we are borrowing to pay the subsidy; that is double jeopardy. It is something that has to stop
“We are glad that majority of people in decision-making positions, including the political parties, have agreed that subsidy is not sustainable.
”The plan is, by June 2023, we must have completely exited subsidy, and it has to be a gradual process,” she said.