The President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has tasked Nigerians with supporting the Federal Government to ensure the realization of the long-term benefits of the subsidy removal on petrol.
Akpabio said this at the presentation of the 2024 budget by President Bola Tinubu to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the country had witnessed significant economic reforms since the removal of the subsidy by the president, describing the removal of the subsidy as courageous.
“The removal of the petrol subsidy caused some discomfort in the nation. You responded with compassion and doled out palliatives to assuage the effects on the people.
“We, the elected representatives of the masses of this country, took note of the responsiveness of your government.
“We have also taken note that these bold decisions taken so far by this government have created some measures of economic discomfort for some Nigerians.
“We plead for continued support for the government to actualise the long-term benefits of these policies,’’ he said.
Akpabio added: “The pain of today is like the pain of childbirth; when the result (the baby) manifests, we will rejoice and forget the pains.
“Mr President, this is your maiden trip to these hallowed chambers to deliver your maiden budgetary estimates as the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“This is a significant milestone in our nation’s journey toward progress and development.
“The presentation of the budgetary estimates sets the course for our nation’s fiscal policies and priorities for the coming year.’’
