Why Tinubu’s subsidy regime is different – Governor Sule
…..I’ll support only aspirants who can sustain our development strides come 2027
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State explained that the subsidy regime under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration is distinct from previous ones like the Petroleum Task Force (PTF) and SURE-P by virtue of how the funds are utilized.
He clarified that the money realized from the removal of fuel subsidies under President Tinubu is being reinvested directly back to the various tiers of government, states and local government areas, for development purposes.
“This is in contrast to past administrations when such funds were primarily absorbed by the federal government without significant returns to the subnational levels.” Sule said.
Governor Sule emphasized that as a result of this improved revenue flow to the states due to subsidy removal, his administration has been able to make developmental progress.
According to to the Governor, part of the gratuity owed to former local government council chairmen and councilors, some dating back to the 1970s and unpaid until now, has been settled. This gesture led to a solidarity visit by those former elected officials.
“Further corroborative views from reports and community acknowledgments indicate that the removal of fuel subsidies triggered a substantial increase in resource allocation to Nasarawa State, enabling rapid economic and infrastructural development not previously seen since the state’s creation in 1996.
President Tinubu’s administration’s scheme has been described as a “painful but necessary economic reform” that has greatly benefited Nasarawa through increased federal allocations (FAAC) and attracted investments, especially in sectors like solid minerals and agriculture.”
“We must thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I saw all kinds of criticisms about this withdrawal of subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange and where the money is going. These are the kinds of places the money is going to,” he stated.
He recalled the precarious economic situation he inherited when he became Governor in 2019, with both the state and local government areas only able to pay salary of workers in percentages.
“The truth is that, don’t mistake me for criticising anybody. When we came in and met something, I was not trying to criticise anyone. I am just trying to present the facts as they are. We came in when local government was having difficulty in even paying full salary. That was the situation we found on the ground. It’s the same thing with pension. Pension both at the local government and the state were having challenges.
“When I said that, then you can imagine there is no any way these people can have any savings. Because since they don’t have even enough to pay, where will they save? The entire allocation of the local government, sometimes it would be 1bn, their salary was already N1.1bn. Sometimes, it would be a little bit above N2bn, 2.4, 2.3. That was what we met. Today, the local government is boasting of N5bn. That is the situation just that the salary has also increased significantly to over N2bn,” he said.
Governor Sule dismissed any attempt to compare previous subsidy regime to the present regime under President Tinubu, stressing that evidence of the distribution and utilisation of the subsidy windfall is visible for all to see across the states and local government areas.
“Other people said that during Abacha’s time, after withdrawal of subsidy, there was PTF. During Jonathan after withdrawal of subsidy, there was SURE-P. Somebody was challenging why don’t we have similar thing now. Our own is different. Because the money is going to people. During the Abacha regime when there was the withdrawal, we did not have dualization of Shendam Road. We didn’t have dualization in Akwanga. We never saw dualization in Keffi. We didn’t saw any of those. Antau Bridge was collapsing at any given opportunity. The market in Keffi was witnessing frequent fire outbreaks and consuming the houses of people, their wealth and everything gone. The same thing here in Lafia, Akwanga and elsewhere.
“But today, we are not seeing development only in our senatorial zones headquarters, we are seeing development also in every town and some of the rural areas. That is where the money is going. In addition to that, they still have savings. This money that the local government sat down and agreed to pay is from their savings,” he said.
The Governor emphasized that the decision to offset part of the gratuity of former council chairmen and councillors was in line with the directive by President Tinubu for governors to ‘wet the ground’, especially at this difficult economic situation.
“I am so happy really that we did the little we did, and I had no idea about any meeting to say any thank you whatsoever. We just felt the need to touch the lives of the people at a very critical time like this. I didn’t know the faces. I didn’t even know it’s some of these big people who are there. This is a big joy for me. I thank God we did this. I thank God Almighty that we did this. We did it in line with our hope that we are going to touch the lives of people at this difficult economic period like this. I have no idea that it is going to touch the lives as we expected,” he said.
The Governor assured the members of the two forums that his administration would settle their outstanding balance in the next two or three months, once the local government areas are able to save sufficient funds to be able to pay.
Governor Sule has dismissed claims that he is supporting any of the 28 governorship aspirants aiming to succeed him in 2027, including the Accountant General Ahmed Mohammed, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, or Dr. Faisal Shuaib. He described such claims as mere speculation, emphasizing that he will only support the aspirant capable of sustaining his administration’s developmental strides and exploiting Nasarawa State’s vast potential.
The political race for the Nasarawa governorship in 2027 involves numerous aspirants across the state’s political parties, with over 20 persons from APC, PDP, and others having declared interest. Notable contenders include former deputy governor Silas Agara, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (SDP), Dr. David Ombugadu (PDP), Dr. Musa Muhammed Maikaya, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, and others. Despite the speculation about some candidates, Governor Sule maintains he will endorse only a candidate who can continue the development and progress made during his tenure.
Governor Sule has also acknowledged pressure from party stakeholders and aspirants to name his preferred successor, but he stresses that he will do so at the appropriate time and without fear or favor. He assured that the party primaries will be conducted fairly and urged aspirants to avoid actions that may heat the political atmosphere.
“We have done the least that we can do, but we are doing great things for the future. Most of these organisations, in fact, we are only waiting for the President to tell us what day he will select even if he is sending somebody to represent him for the commissioning of the biggest lithium processing plant in the whole of Africa. The moment he does that, we have opened an opportunity for the state to have an improved IGR.
“When investors come in, that is when we will continue opening because the number of opportunities in Nasarawa is enormous. We can now move from there to Riri. Riri is going to be the next huge facility. Riri is under Deddere. They have already started the process for the construction. Then we are looking at Amba, which will follow next. Those are the ways we are going. I am not going to be able to be here when all these are being done. The prayer is that, by the grace of God, whoever is taking over from me will be somebody who will continue to carry the state to make more and more opportunities,” he added.
“That is the reason why if anybody tells you that I am supporting this, I am supporting that, it’s just grammar. People are just telling their stories. At one time, they said I was supporting the Accountant General. Then, at another point, they said it is Wadada. Then, at one point, they said it is Faisal. If you see people running back and forth like this, you know there is no truth in any of this. It’s just speculation,” he said.
Governor Sule told the members of the forum that he is yet to make up his mind on who to support amongst the governorship aspirants.
“You are hearing from me. I will support the person who has the capacity to deliver these opportunities. Who that person is, God has not shown the person at least to me yet. I am a friend to every one of them, and I support every one of them coming to contest. During our time, 11 of us contested, and 10 of them came and supported me without any ambiguity. I am forever grateful to them for that.
“Maybe the person who may be the governor has not even started. It is also possible. But people see the sincerity in me that I love every one of them but I am making sure that we have somebody that can deliver and carry this state the way we are carrying it now,” he said.
In their separate remarks, leaders of the delegation, Hon. Musa Adamu Sa’idu of the forum of former council chairmen and Hon. Hashimu Abubakar, leader of the former elected councillors, all appreciated Governor Sule for his sterling leadership and for carrying the people of the state along.
Members of the forums pledged their continued loyalty and support for the success of the Governor Sule administration.
The 2027 governorship elections in Nasarawa State are shaping into a significant contest reflecting on credibility, leadership capability, and unity within the parties, especially the ruling APC, whose internal zoning arrangements and consultations are ongoing.
