By Ayorinde Oluokun

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday tackled former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who is also the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the 2027 general election over his promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected.

Atiku, had in a widely circulated interview he conducted on Wednesday pledged to restore fuel subsidy if he was elected as president in 2027.

Tinubu had announced end to payment of subsidy on petrol by the government when he was being sworn in for his first term of office on May 29, 2023.

However, speaking when he received the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at Aso Rock presidential villa, President Tinubu described the promise by one of his ‘opponents in the 2027 general election to restore payment of fuel subsidy as a ” demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and economy,”

Tinubu, who did not mention the name of Atiku directly insisted that removal of the fuel subsidy by his administration has put states in better fiscal position.

He said the states are now able to pay salaries and pensions without resorting to borrowing from banks

Tinubu noted that 27 state governments were unable to pay salaries and pensions before he assumed office in 2023 and depended on the Federal Government for regular bailouts.

“Okay, let’s look at the trajectory of history. I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy. I read it. That is a demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and economy,” he said.

“Before I came here, 27 states were unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of pensioners, salaries of workers.

Making reference to Governor Adeleke, the President recalled that one of his predecessors as Osun governor was nicknamed ‘Half Salary’ because of his inability to pay full salary to workers.

The President noted that with the removal of fuel subsidy, governments at the subnational levels are now able to pay salaries regularly and embark on infrastcture projects to the benefit of their people.

The salary you pay feeds families. They were at the local governments. They are in the states. Where is the concentration of population? They are in the states.

“Take out the President. Regard every other person as common men, their families to feed.

“The infrastructure you embark upon on the road network, housing, school rehabilitation, hospital, healthcare pronouncements, resuscitation of healthcare, training of teachers, training of health workers to protect our vulnerable families is part of your responsibility,” he added.

Recall that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele had at a press briefing on Thursday noted that ₦15.8 trillion accrued to the federation account between June 2023 and December 2025 from as a result of removal of fuel subsidy.

He added that ₦5.4 trillion of the amount accrued to the Federal Government, while ₦10.4 trillion was shared to states and local governments.

According to him, the federal government used its share of the subsidy savings to partly fund wage adjustments, minimum wage increases and allowances for public servants which he put at ₦9.39 trillion for the period.