Community leader condemns fuel, electricity hike, says it is anti-people

A community leader in Ogun State, Chief Toyin Amuzu has condemned the recent hike in prices of Premium Motor Spirit, (PMS) otherwise called petrol and electricity tariff in Nigeria, describing the increment as anti-people and insensitive to the plight of the people.

Penpushing reports that, Amuzu who is the Okanlomo of Oke-Ijeun in Abeokuta  made his displeasure known on the increment to N151 per litre and electricity tariff to N66 per kw, stressing that, the development was not to the interest of the populace.

The community leader noted that the increase will result in upsurge in costs of goods and services which in turn would worsen the biting hardship presently faced by Nigerians who are already impoverished and overburdened.

Penpushing further reports that Amuzu who stated that he had earlier called on Government at all tiers to give succour to the citizenry aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, again called on the Federal Government to unburden Nigerians by reversing the hikes immediately.

“It is shocking that another increase in the price of petrol is coming barely two months after it was hiked. Without mincing words, the increase, no doubt would work against the fight on corruption and insecurity, as there can be no secured society where many people are so poor, finding it difficult to make ends meet”, he said

“it is also disheartening that this is coming after the covid-19 pandemic which had disrupted economic activities and taken many people out of jobs with other attendant negative effects. It is so disturbing that while responsible governments  all over the world are giving out succour through tax relief, grants, free electricity and other benefits, the present government has chosen a low time in the lives of Nigerians to further elevate their sufferings”.

“Nigerians provide virtually everything they need, thus the least any responsible government can do is seek to lessen their burdens and not add to it”, stressing that ” if protecting the wellbeing of the citizens is part of the duties of any good government, our government is failing in this regard”