Subsidy Removal: Jimbo Makes Case for Lawmakers on expenditure of N6 Trillion Subsidy fund
By Imó Etim
Clement Jimbo, member-elect for Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal constituency in the House of Representatives has said that a part of the N6 trillion used in servicing fuel subsidy should be ploughed back into life-changing projects in different constituencies to better the lot of Nigerians.
Jimbo who was reacting to the recent pronouncement by President Bola Tinubu over his planned removal of fuel subsidy and the effect on Nigerians, told our reporter that although subsidy removal might plunge Nigerians into harsh economic realities, it was for a greater good of all.
The incoming lawmaker proposed that out of the 6 trillion naira initially spent on subsidy, a chunk of it amounting to 50% of the money should be given to lawmakers to nominate life-changing projects across the various constituencies, so to enhance the well-being of Nigerians, who he mentioned have endured a lot owing to policies of government over the years.
He said: “The next budget in 2024, by the grace of God, we are going to witness a removal of over 6 trillion naira that would have gone into fuel subsidy, and we should be asking where we should plough this money to, and if you ask me as a lawmaker, I would say; divide it into half let’s say 50%, give it to lawmakers to nominate projects in their respective constituencies, so that when we go to our different constituencies and this projects are implemented, we tell the people this is as a result of subsidy that has been removed.
Projects like roads, water, hospitals, schools, amongst others, the people will be happy, and for that to happen, expect it to take 1 to 3 years.”
The former presidential aspirant also stressed that Nigerians needed to be on their highest level of understanding in such times, as there was no makeshift approach to ameliorating the sufferings of the people than ensuring that better economic policies were put in place, adding that “there was no development without inconveniences.”
Clement Jimbo is one of the lawmakers from Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial who emerged winner under the All Progressives Congress after defeating an incumbent member to clinch a seat at the green chambers of the National Assembly in the April 15 re-run election.