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President Bola Tinubu has said that 27 states were unable to pay workers’ salaries before his administration removed fuel subsidy, as he criticised opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar’s pledge to restore the policy.
Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday while receiving Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who paid a thank-you visit to the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy. I read it. That is demonstration of a serious ignorance on governance and economy,” Tinubu said.
“Before I came here, 27 states are unable to pay salaries. Not to even talk of pensioners, salary of workers. In your state, I know a man that raised, whose nickname, half salary,” he added.
Atiku, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the pledge during a Facebook Live session, arguing that Nigerians had not seen sufficient benefits from the subsidy removal.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go? It was intended to reduce poverty and help children attend school. Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku said in Hausa.
“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he added.
Atiku argued that subsidy removal would have been easier to justify if the savings had been transparently invested in critical sectors such as security, education and poverty reduction.
“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” he said.
“If elected, I can remove the subsidy and use the money to do all these properly.”
In his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, Tinubu declared the elimination of the petrol subsidy. This immediately led to an increase in living expenses, with prices for goods and services rising nationwide.
The president also urged Adeleke to use his victory to unite the people and avoid victimising or stigmatising political opponents.
“All for the reconciliation, expand your coast; that is the only way you can give thanks to Osun people, not the way you sang it or celebrate it, it’s the way you act it,” Tinubu said.
“Use me as an example. And I got here; God put me here. Where you are today, God put you there. Not the smartness of any of these people; it’s just their support, not their smartness. It’s the wish of God that prevailed and the wish of the people for it.”
“You are in a very, very unique position to make it straight, promote unity, peace and stability, use it,” he added.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives in audience a delegation lead by Gov Ademola Adeleke, as he presents his certificate of return to Mr President and gives gratitude for success at the just concluded August 15 governorship election in Osun state.
“You are in a very unique… pic.twitter.com/JELzw5rDu0
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) August 20, 2026
