Tinubu yields to pressure and orders a review of the N8,000 palliative fund

He claims that Tinubu gave the immediate order to evaluate the N8,000 conditional cash transfer initiative intended to help the most needy households.

In an effort to mitigate the consequences of the elimination of the gasoline subsidy, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of his administration’s proposal to send 12 million of the poorest households in the nation a monthly transfer of N8,000 for six months.

The strategy was outlined in a letter last Thursday that was read aloud in the House of Representatives as it related to the $800 million loan request for a social safety net project made by the previous Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Dele Alake, the President’s Special Advisor on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, stated in a statement on Tuesday that the cash plan was just one component of Tinubu’s relief initiative.

According to Alake, the President promised to always put Nigerians at the centre of his policies and initiatives.

He claims that Tinubu gave the immediate order to evaluate the N8,000 conditional cash transfer initiative intended to help the most needy households.

It was further stated by him that “this is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.”

Along with directing the immediate distribution of cereals and fertilisers to around 50 million farmers and households in each of the 36 states and the FCT, the President also ordered that the full of the government’s palliative package be made public to Nigerian.

See the full statement below:

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

REVIEW OF N8, 000 CASH TRANSFER

You will agree with me that it has become part of the culture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to constantly dialogue with Nigerians who voted him into office. The President covenanted with Nigerians that their welfare and security will be topmost in the Renewed Hope Agenda of his government.

In the last few days, the conventional and new media platforms have become awash with stories of the government intending to embark on conditional cash transfer to vulnerable households mostly affected by the painful but necessary decision to remove subsidy from petrol.

The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal.

A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision. Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped, government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.

While it should be noted that cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a listening leader who has vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme, the President has directed as follows:-

1. That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programmed envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.
2. That the whole gamut of palliative package of government be unveiled to Nigerians.
3. Immediate release of fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households respectively in all the 36 states and the FCT.

The President further assures Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of subsidy regime will be judiciously utilised. The beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

President Bola Tinubu has promised to always prioritize the wellbeing of Nigerians and he is irrevocably committed to the vow. A number of decisions taken so far by this Administration have buttressed this stance.

You will recall that the President took a similar decision after listening to complaints from the business community/stakeholders about burdensome taxes, particularly multiplicity of taxes they are made to experience. This warranted the signing of four (4) Executive Orders cancelling some classes of taxes, while suspending the implementation dates of others.

In addition, the President has also set up a Tax Reform/Fiscal Policy Committee to bring up recommendations that will engender a wholesome fiscal environment for the country and remove anti-business barriers.

I wish to assure Nigerians that President Tinubu will continue to be a listening leader whose ears will not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry. The President believes government exists to cater for the interest of the people and he has demonstrated this so clearly.

Thank you all.

Dele Alake

Special Adviser to the President

(Special Duties, Communications and Strategy)

July 18, 2023