APC's Morka Defends Tinubu on Fuel Subsidy Removal

Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not unilaterally remove Nigeria’s petrol subsidy. During an interview on Arise News, Morka explained that the National Assembly had legislated the removal of the subsidy before Tinubu assumed office, and there was no budget provision for its payment in 2023.

He highlighted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was not remitting funds to the national treasury at the time of Tinubu's inauguration, with over 93 percent of the country’s earnings consumed by subsidy payments and debt servicing. Morka acknowledged that the removal of the subsidy would cause hardship for Nigerians but argued that retaining it would have perpetuated corruption and worsened the financial position of the country.

He criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his allies for their emotional appeals against the subsidy removal, asserting they understood the economic realities but presented the issue differently for political reasons.