Subsidy Removal: N5,000 Grant for ‘Poor’ Nigerians’ll Promote Corruption – PFN

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has asserted that the N5,000 grant proposed for poor Nigerians by the federal government will further promote corruption in the country.

This was contained in statement on Sunday by the PFN President, Bishop Wale Oke, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to the PFN, most so-called poor Nigerians have no phones or bank accounts, and stand to miss out from the initiative.

Daily Report Nigeria earlier reported how the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had announced that the Federal Government would give a transport grant of N5,000 each to about 40 million poor Nigerians.

The grant is proposed to run for a duration of 12 months, as a direct replacement for the proposed removal of fuel subsidy.

Bishop Oke also stated that the removal of fuel subsidy will further worsen the suffering of most Nigerians who are already impoverished.

He said, “Without begging the issue, there should be well defined palliative measures in place that can cushion the effect of the hardship being experienced by Nigerians, especially the commoners. One is not talking about political palliatives that never last. We have seen enough of such.

“An increase in the price of petroleum from its present N165 to N340 per litre, can trigger tension and crises in the country which in turn can paralyse our economy if not handled with utmost care.

“Again, the planned introduction of N5,000 for 40 million poor Nigerians is to create a cesspool of corruption. How do you define the poor? They, mostly, don’t use telephones. They, mostly, don’t have bank accounts. How will the money get to them?”

The PFN President advised that farmers and relevant stakeholders should be empowered with relevant tools and funds through loans with little interest to curb the rising cost of food.

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