The Northern Patriotic Front (NPF), a pro-democracy group in Abuja on Wednesday said the withdrawal of fuel subsidy would salvage the national economic crunch.
Alhaji Ali Abacha, the National Coordinator of the group, gave the support in an interview with NAN.
According to him, the policy will cause temporary pains to Nigerians but at the end of the day, we shall overcome the economic predicaments.
Abacha called on Nigerians to look at the policy as a child of necessity, calling on civil society groups as well as other pro-democratic groups to assist in educating the public on the benefits of the policy.
“I believe this policy is a child of necessity if we are ready to come out of our present economic doldrums.
“I am calling on civil society groups to assist the government in educating the general public on the benefits of this policy.
“ The policy will further empower our national treasury, to enable the present administration achieve its transformation agenda.
“Nigeria is not the only country which is removing subsidy, other countries had done their own without quarrels and I wonder why our own is generating crisis.’’
Meanwhile, the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) has faulted the pronouncement of the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), saying it is illegal.
Chief Ambrose Owuru, the National Chairman of the party, said the 2011 budget was to expire in March 2012, noting that fuel subsidy was included in last year’s budget.
Owuru also faulted the constitution of a committee to manage the funds accruable from the withdrawal of the subsidy.
“This is not a military government that will name an agency or a committee to manage the funds.
“These funds must be approved by the national assembly because the president does not have any power to spend any money that is not approved.”
According to Owuru, it will amount to gross violation of law if the presidency unilaterally spends such funds.
Also, the Freedom Party of Nigeria (FPN) has called on the presidency to rescind the policy and revert to the old price regime of petroleum products.
Chief Frank Owhofa, the National Chairman of the party, called on the government to educate the public on what the funds realised from the policy would be meant for.
“We had this kind of policy during Gen. Sani Abacha and he named it Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
“We want the president to educate us more on what the money will be used for,’’Owhofa said.