Mixed feelings are being expressed in response to the Federal Government’s decision to pay N8,000 to around 12 million households in an effort to lessen the impact of the elimination of gasoline subsidies.

The president claims that the funds will “stimulate economic activities in the informal sector” and raise standards of living for the beneficiaries’ homes. If president tinubu gives this 8000 grant, It may be small though but I believe  our dear president is setting a new part for governance in Nigeria. Look at South Africa for an example, South African grant was 350 rands before but now 510 rands.

In order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers should be made directly to beneficiaries’ accounts and mobile wallets. It is expected that the programme will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector and improve nutrition, health, education, and human capital development of beneficiaries’ households,” the letter reads in part.

Following research survey conducted, revealed that Nigerians are presently frustrated due to the increase in prices of staple food items that was previously marketed for N8,000 is now going for N22,000, it was noticed. Some of the vendors claimed that the expense of transportation had an impact on their ability to buy, which is why food prices had increased.

Similarily, whereas a bag of foreign rice that was once sold for N30,000 is now N44,000 and higher, a bag of Nigerian rice that was once sold for between N15,000 and N20,000 is now sold for N35,000.

From the $800 million, 12 million vulnerable Nigerians, according to the president, would be placed on a monthly stipend of N8,000 per month for six consecutive months as a way of cushioning the effects of subsidy removal on them.

The proposed N8,000 to 12 million households would just amount to futile attempts, noting the prevailing economic hardship afflicting Nigerians, the development continued to spark controversy.  While some are dubious about the program’s efficacy, others are worried about the value of the N8,000 due to the inflation that is causing the nation’s economy to falter.

“ I recall what Sanusi a former Governor of  Central Bank of Nigeria said years ago, you should wary of  any leader who tells you the road will be easy, a true leader who means well tell you the road won’t be easy but will assure there is a light at the end of the tunnel “

According to Mr Kennedy Lawrence in an interview conducted by ipledge2nigeria, he said , we know of a candidate who has only been telling us followers about what he will do and how he will use abracadabra to transform Nigeria in less than months, We know the leader who sees the efficiency in keeping close contact with the people the change

He alleged that the “Minister was collecting N500 billion every month from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for the same purpose but no household was seen benefiting from the said programme”.

He added that “Nigerians are tired of hearing such programmes. It is a programme that brings hardship and suffering to Nigerians instead of the better life we are being told it is meant for.
“We want programmes that will have direct bearing on the people and not what will lead Nigerians into more suffering and abject poverty as being experienced today.

“Nigerians are not finding it easy to feed, pay transport fares and take care of other necessities as the prices of goods and services have skyrocketed because of the increased cost of fuel, diesel and other petroleum products. Nigerians are sick and tired of being deceived by those in power”.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, also kicked against the plan, describing the proposed N8,000 as a “drop of water in an ocean.”

The spokesperson of the union, Benson Upah said in an interview on Saturday that the N8,000 is not enough, citing the level of inflation that has relatively crippled the country’s economy.

He said, “The hardship being experienced in the country right now is so much that when you single out just 12 million people, it will be like a drop of water in the ocean. It is obviously not enough, he said”

What will N8,000 accomplish for the people, given the?One hundred and thirty-six million Nigerians were dimensionally poor, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, even before the fuel subsidy was eliminated.

“The World Bank predicted that 100 million more Nigerians would fall into poverty when the subsidy was eliminated. You can count on one hand the number of people who are going to be comfortable.

In conclusion

The Nigeria youth have talked about several needs the government should meet to cushion the effect of this subsidy removal. To us, what the government is doing or planning to do are parts of what we have demanded”. We just need to remain calm,the president will roll out other palliatives that would cushion the effect of the subsidy removal..

“I learnt that the Innoson vehicle has been contracted to produce buses that may reduce the cost of transportation for civil servants. Is that not palliative?

“All I know is that President Tinubu means well for Nigerians and we need to be patient. Already, the economy is bad and we can’t blame him for it, he also met it like that.

“You can destroy a building in a few hours but it will take you several months to repair it. We just need to be patient and wait for what the administration has to offer.”