The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s proposed petrol price intervention, describing it as an arrangement under which Nigerians will eventually bear costs that suppliers absorb now.
Reacting in Abuja on Friday through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the proposal operated on the principle of deferred payment.
“This is not subsidy. The principle is straightforward: what suppliers forgo today, Nigerians will pay later,” Abdullahi said.
He said the Government wanted to announce a discount and leave Nigerians to settle the bill later, adding that a payment postponed was still a payment owed.
The party added that the separate 30-day waiver of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) retail profit margin offered no lasting solution to the cost-of-living crisis.
“Food bills and transport fares will not disappear after 30 days. Nigerians need lasting relief,” he said.
According to him, the President could not claim to have lifted the burden while making arrangements to put it back on Nigerians after 30 days.
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