President Bola Tinubu has informed Nigerians to expect many more tough policy measures to be introduced by his administration to reposition governance for efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.
Recall Tinubu in May 29, had announced removal of fuel subsidy and alongside the new forex regime. This, according to him, are already yielding positive results.
The President whose speech was read by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr George Akume on Saturday at the Gala/Award Nite, the concluding part of the 2023 Federal Civil Service Week celebration, said the main concern of his administration is to revamp the nation’s economy and improve the welfare of the citizens.
He said Nigeria now has the rare privilege of correcting the errors of the past in order to create the country of “our dreams”.
Recall that the announcement of complete removal of fuel subsidy by President Tinubu while delivering his inaugural speech at Eagle Square, Abuja on May 29, 2023, has led to increase in pump price of petrol twice. First, the price of the commodity jumped from N198/litre to N540 per litre on May 30, 2023, and further increased to 617 per litre.
Marketers have continued to blame the hike on market forces since the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol and the floating of the naira against the dollar, with many speculating that the cost of PMS could rise to as high as N 800 per litre. This has also come with consequential high-cost food items, transportation among others and attendant hardships being faced by Nigerians.
But speaking on Saturday night at the event held the International Conference Centre (ICC), Tinubu said: “The first two policies that I announced during my inauguration, namely the removal of the fuel subsidy and the new forex regime are already yielding positive results.
“We have received support and commendation from the global community for our courage in introducing these policy shifts.
“We shall, without delay, cushion the pains being experienced by our people as a result of these measures, through a number of well-targeted policy interventions aimed at giving adequate relief and succour to the great number of our long-suffering citizens,” he said.
Tinubu lamented that Nigeria is being confronted by a myriad of monumental challenges, which could have been conclusively and decisively addressed over the years, saying for the country to move forward, it has to be recalibrated and redefined in line with the dreams of the Founding Fathers.
The President noted that even though the event was a social gathering to unwind and appreciate the exemplary and commendable performance of deserving civil servants, he said it was also an auspices moment for him to talk to vision of his administration.