Kola Ologbondiyan, former spokesman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked federal government to review its economic policies.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ologbondiyan said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ought to have stopped petrol subsidy gradually and provide relief measures to address the needs of Nigerians.
The former PDP spokesman also criticised the decision of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to float naira.
Recall that federal government had in August, announced the sale of rice at N40,000 per bag to civil servants against the market price of between N90,000 to N100,000 to reduce the hardship caused by removal of petrol subsidy.
Ologbondiyan during an interview on Morning Brief on Monday, said the subsidied rice was not enough.
He said, “Let’s take the issue of the removal of subsidy, because what has brought Nigeria to its knees has been the first two major decisions made by President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, particularly on the subsidy and floating of the naira.”
“But under the PDP leadership in the time past, I am aware that what we had was a phased subsidy removal which also came with palliatives.”
“The APC has said Nigerians should go and buy rice at N40,000 per bag. But the needs of Nigerians go beyond rice.”
“So, I believe the policies could also be better if we have a public transport system where you and I won’t have to drive our vehicles at a subsidised rate.”
“But the unfortunate thing as we are witnessing today is that we are paying lip service.”
Ologbondiyan’s remark came after PDP Governor’s forum in a communique released on Saturday, asked Tinubu to urgently review his economic policies that are causing hardship for Nigerians.
The Governors asked the president to “re-examine macroeconomics and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians”.
They promised to aggressively pursue policies that will reduce hardship.
