The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that there is no agreement with state governors on fuel subsidy palliatives.
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, made the announcement after the Federal Executive Council meeting, which was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Federal Government has yet to harmonize efforts with states to set up palliative measures before the June 2023 deadline for the discontinuation of petrol subsidy.
A committee led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the National Economic Council, composed of state governors, has been working to resolve the issue for over 12 months, but the committee has not yet harmonized its templates.
Agba said discussions were ongoing and that the delay was necessary because the situation had far-reaching consequences for the nation.
In other news, the government has postponed the 2023 population and housing census earlier scheduled for March 29 due to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s rescheduling of the governorship elections to March 18.
The council approved N2.8bn for the National Population Commission to procure software to be deployed for the census.
The council also approved N15bn for the construction of an access road linking the Benin-Asaba Expressway to the Second Niger Bridge.
The completion of the road will enable the regime to inaugurate the bridge before Buhari leaves office on May 29.
The council also approved N16bn as augmentation for the dualisation of Suleja-Minna Road in Niger State.
