How Fuel Subsidy Removal Affects Civil Servants in Abuja: Voices of the People
The federal government’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy has sparked a lot of reactions from Nigerians, especially those living and working in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Many civil servants have expressed their frustrations and challenges in coping with the rising cost of living and transportation in the city. They have called on the government to take urgent steps to alleviate their plight and provide some relief measures.
One of them is Felicia Anthony, who works as a secretary in a federal ministry. She told journalists that her salary was no longer enough to meet her basic needs and those of her family.
She said she had to pay more for house rent, children’s school fees, food items and transport fares. She also lamented the lack of price control in the market, as traders and service providers increased their charges arbitrarily.
“I pray that the federal government should assist us because we are suffering. We can’t cope with this salary anymore. They should regulate the prices of goods and services because people are exploiting us in the name of fuel subsidy removal. Not everyone is a civil servant, even those in private sector are struggling too. Something should be done quickly before things get worse,” she said.
Another civil servant, Ukwa Denis, who works as an accountant in a federal agency, echoed Ms Anthony’s sentiments. He said the economic situation was unbearable for all Nigerians, not just civil servants.
He said everyone was buying from the same market and pursuing the same goals of good living. He criticised the government for removing the subsidy without putting adequate measures in place to cushion the effects.
“The situation is very hectic because they did not consider us before taking this decision. They should have fixed our refineries and petroleum industries first before removing the subsidy. Our salaries cannot take us anywhere now, considering the inflation and devaluation of our currency. We can’t cope with this situation anymore,” he said.
Muhammed Idris, another civil servant who works as a driver in a federal parastatal, also expressed his displeasure with the subsidy removal. He said it was disappointing for Nigeria, a blessed country with abundant natural resources, to be facing such hardship.
He blamed the past leaders for failing to maintain and upgrade the refineries when they were functional. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and salvage the situation, while making the repair of refineries a top priority in his administration.
“It is so sad to see what we are going through today. Those who ruled us before, when our refineries were working, were they not leaders? Why can’t we fix our refineries? We have oil and gas, yet we are importing fuel and paying high prices for it. This is not fair to us. I beg President Tinubu to do something about this and help us out. He should also make sure our refineries are working again,” he said.
These are some of the voices of the civil servants in Abuja, who are feeling the pinch of the fuel subsidy removal. They are calling on the government to listen to their cries and address their concerns. They hope that things will get better soon and that they will enjoy the dividends of democracy in Nigeria.
The removal of fuel subsidy has caused widespread hardship for civil servants in Abuja. The government needs to take immediate action to address the situation. This includes providing financial assistance to civil servants, increasing the minimum wage, and fixing the country’s refineries.
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