Atiku Questions Where Fuel Subsidy Savings Went as ASUU Threatens Strike

Atiku Abubakar has questioned the use of funds saved from fuel subsidy removal as ASUU threatens fresh strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has questioned the whereabouts of funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy, following a fresh threat of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said on Sunday that the government had justified subsidy removal by promising that resources freed by the policy would be channelled into education, healthcare, infrastructure and other essential services.

He questioned why public universities continue to face funding challenges and unresolved agreements with lecturers despite the increased revenue accruing to government since the subsidy was removed.

“If the subsidy is gone and Nigerians have paid for that decision through unprecedented hardship, then President Tinubu owes the country a simple answer: where is the money?” Atiku said in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

The former vice president said Nigerians had borne the impact of higher fuel, transport and food costs, while public universities continued to struggle with inadequate infrastructure and other challenges.

His comments followed renewed concerns over a possible ASUU strike arising from unresolved issues between the union and the Federal Government.

Atiku said the situation raised questions about the extent to which funds generated following subsidy removal had translated into improvements in public education.

“More than three years later, lecturers are still raising concerns about unpaid salaries and unresolved agreements. ASUU is again warning of industrial action,” 

He also questioned the condition of state-owned universities, arguing that increased allocations to state governments should have translated into improvements in public education.

“If substantially more money is supposedly flowing to the states, why has the condition of public education not improved accordingly?” Atiku asked.

He said the challenges facing universities were not limited to funding, citing inadequate classrooms, laboratories, hostels and other teaching facilities, as well as limited admission capacity.

Atiku also criticised the Federal Government’s student loan programme, saying the rising cost of living and education had increased the financial pressure on families.

The government established the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide loans to eligible students for tertiary education.

Atiku said the policy placed students in the position of borrowing to finance education after families had already been affected by higher living costs following subsidy removal.

“What kind of reform first empties a family’s pocket and then offers the child a loan to survive the hardship government helped create?” he asked.

The former vice president said Nigeria’s growing youth population required a corresponding expansion of tertiary education infrastructure and admission capacity.

He called on the Tinubu administration to account for the funds it said had become available following the removal of subsidy.

“The sacrifice has been collected from Nigerians in full. The promised benefits have not been delivered in full,” Atiku said.

He urged the government to address outstanding agreements with university lecturers and invest more resources in public universities to prevent further disruption of the academic calendar.

Atiku said Nigerians were entitled to know how increased government revenues were being used, particularly in sectors such as education.