The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) has made eight demands from the current administration under President Bola Tinubu over fuel subsidy removal.
NAGGMDP, in a statement signed by its National President and Secretary General, Dr Sofiri Starson Peterside Jnr, urged the Federal Government to suspend the removal of fuel subsidy and revert to the old pump price of Premium Motor Spirits, PMS.
The association believed that the above idea will avert the looming multisectoral industrial disharmony that may grind Nigeria to a halt.
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Tinubu announced the fuel subsidy removal during his inaugural speech last month. He had stated that the subsidy could no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.
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The President promised to re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, healthcare, and jobs that would materially improve the lives of millions.
For NAGGMDP, the removal of fuel subsidies will harm the healthcare sector.
They argue that the cost of transportation will increase, leading to an increase in the cost of healthcare services.
The association also expressed concerns about the impact on the general public, especially the poor and vulnerable.
They also urged the Federal Government to put measures to stop crude oil theft, revamp the country’s refineries, secure the country’s borders, and stop leakages within the oil and gas sector.
NAGGMDP’s eight demands read:
“—That we strongly align in solidarity with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and call on the Federal Government to urgently suspend the removal of fuel subsidy and revert to the old pump price of PMS to avert the looming multisectoral industrial disharmony that may grind the country to a halt.
“— That our refineries should be revamped to functional capacity as soon as possible, and licenses should be given for the establishment of more refineries to encourage local production of Petroleum products.
“—The Federal Government should institute measures to stop crude oil theft, secure our borders and stop leakages within the oil and gas sector.
“—There should be a committee set up by the Federal Government to audit the subsidy regime since its inception and the use of funds recurrently allocated for the repair of our refineries and that the culprits brought to book.
“—There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to strengthen healthcare financing by ensuring at least 15% budgetary allocation to the health sector. There is also a need to achieve universal health coverage through primary healthcare and National/State health insurance schemes across the country to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and guarantee accessible and affordable healthcare.
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“—The Federal Government should set up a robust economic team that will establish cushioning measures to protect citizens when the subsidy is eventually removed. Priority should be given to measures aimed at addressing the widespread hunger and poverty in the country. They should also bring on board palliative measures to mitigate the impact of the eventual subsidy removal on citizens, especially those on low incomes.
“—That the Federal Government, in the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice, should take measures to cut down the cost of governance by the Executive and the National Assembly, reduce borrowing, and channel such funds to other critical sectors of the economy, including minimum wage increase.
“—The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration should demonstrate empathy to the citizens of this country by doing what is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian people.”
