By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to tell its members to refund the subsidy they received on petrol price and electricity tariff.
Yekini Nabena, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, made the call on Wednesday in reaction to criticism of the PDP over the subsidy on fuel and electricity.
He asked the PDP to surprise itself and Nigerians by “cajoling its cronies who ran the subsidy rackets – many of them in hiding abroad – to return the stolen commonwealth in their possession.”
He said successive PDP governments foisted on the country a corruption-tainted fuel subsidy regime, whereas under President Muhammadu Buhari, fuel queues as a result of biting scarcities are gone.
Nabena added: “The reviewed petroleum products pricing template has resulted in a more transparent, efficient and realistic pricing system for petroleum products and also resulted in constant availability of fuel nationwide.
“The pricing template now reflects competitive and market driven components which is supported by the citizenry.”
According to him, Buhari recently directed a nationwide mass metering programme in an effort to end estimated and arbitrary billing for electricity.
“For the PDP that is only concerned with pushing the interests of its few cronies over the general interest and welfare of the citizenry, we don’t expect the PDP to grasp the import of this landmark presidential directive.”
Nabena said the directive, aside of improving electricity and service delivery, will also protect the poor and vulnerable from increased electricity tariff and arbitrary/estimated billing.
“Commendably, the federal government is already working to ensure that Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) commit to increasing the number of hours of electricity supply every day and also improve on their quality of service.
“Perhaps the PDP is also unaware that the current administration has approved a one-year waiver of import levy on electricity meters, so that Nigerians who do not have meters can be supplied as early as possible at a reasonable cost.
“The APC calls on the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria where the government works for the citizens not a few interests.”