According to Channels television, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said discussions over whether the Federal Government should have removed the petrol subsidy are no longer relevant, stressing that attention should now shift to ensuring Nigerians benefit from the policy.
PENGASSAN President, Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, made the position known on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
According to him, the country has already gone through the difficult decision of removing the subsidy, making continued arguments over whether it should have been retained unnecessary.
“I think the argument over whether to remove the subsidy or not to remove it is belated now. We have done it, but we need to start seeing the benefits of fuel subsidy removal in the lives of common Nigerians,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023. The policy significantly changed the cost of petrol, with pump prices rising from roughly ₦200 per litre at the time to about ₦1,300 per litre, according to the report.
The increase in fuel prices has contributed to wider concerns over Nigeria’s rising cost of living, with workers and households continuing to deal with the effects of higher transportation, food and other living expenses.
Opposition politicians and other critics of the administration have continued to question the policy, while some political candidates ahead of the 2027 elections have promised to reverse the subsidy removal.
However, Olabiyi-Agoro acknowledged that although the policy had been painful, the country should now concentrate on translating its economic gains into tangible improvements for ordinary citizens.
He pointed to Nigeria’s reported 4.43 per cent Gross Domestic Product growth in the second quarter of 2026, alongside improvements in other macroeconomic indicators.
The PENGASSAN president said such economic figures would have greater meaning if they resulted in better living conditions and greater access to food and other necessities for Nigerians.
“What we are advocating for at the moment is that we want to see that translate into what is going to help a common man and not just the things that we see in figures,” he said.
He noted that indicators such as GDP growth, the balance of trade and foreign exchange reserves were positive developments, but stressed that ordinary Nigerians should also experience the impact.
Olabiyi-Agoro further said the removal of subsidy had contributed to improvements in the availability of petroleum products.
He argued that with government no longer budgeting for fuel subsidies, Nigerians were increasingly purchasing petroleum products at prices that reflected their actual cost.
“For us, we’ve left one side of that argument,” he said, referring to the debate over whether the subsidy should have been removed.
The union leader also pledged that workers would continue contributing to efforts aimed at strengthening the economy, regardless of which government is in power.
PENGASSAN’s position comes as economic policies and the cost of living remain major issues likely to shape political discussions ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
COURTESY: PatrickNewsUpdate
