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NDC Reveals Peter Obi’s Plan For Fuel Subsidy Money
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has said its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would deploy funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy directly to improve the welfare of Nigerians rather than transferring the resources to state governors.
Theo Abu Agada, the party’s Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, stated this while responding to renewed debate over the future of fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Agada said Obi had maintained a consistent position on subsidy removal and the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, arguing that the critical issue was how the resources generated from the policy were managed.
His comments came against the backdrop of a proposal by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the restoration of fuel subsidy if elected in 2027.
President Bola Tinubu had announced the end of the petrol subsidy regime during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, triggering significant economic and political debate over the consequences of the policy.
According to Agada, Obi would neither return the subsidy regime nor allow the funds saved from it to be controlled by political office holders.
He said the NDC candidate would instead channel the resources into projects and programmes capable of directly improving living standards and stimulating economic opportunities.
“For Peter Obi and many of us who have, since 2012, advocated for the removal of the subsidy and the deregulation of the downstream sector, the policy position has always been the transparent management of the subsidy regime,” Agada said in a post on X.
He added that Obi would not “put the money in the pockets of the governors like Tinubu” or restore the influence of what he described as “oil cabals” that benefited from the former subsidy arrangement.
“We will put the money in the pockets of Nigerians and also channel the funds into building quality healthcare facilities, transport infrastructure, schools, and other programmes that will create jobs for Nigerians,” he said.
Agada also questioned the change in Atiku’s position on subsidy, recalling that the former vice president had previously supported its removal.
The debate over subsidy has become increasingly prominent ahead of the 2027 election as various presidential candidates offer competing prescriptions on how the government should address the economic hardship associated with the removal of the policy.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has expressed confidence that Obi could defeat Tinubu and Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.
Amadi, speaking in an interview with Symfoni TV, argued that the existing political calculations surrounding Tinubu and Atiku did not guarantee either candidate victory.
He said Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, particularly his support among younger Nigerians and his showing in several states, had demonstrated the potential for a major political realignment.
Amadi argued that the 2020 #EndSARS protests also contributed to a growing demand among young Nigerians for a different political direction, which he said had strengthened Obi’s appeal.
“There is this sense that Nigeria needs something new, and the restiveness and disruption during the 2020 EndSARS incident is a milestone for Obi,” he said.
He further claimed that Obi had secured significant support in the 2023 election, alleging that the former Anambra State governor won in Rivers, Plateau and some northern states but was not declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Amadi, Obi’s 2023 performance remains a major factor that could shape the 2027 contest, particularly if the electorate’s demand for political change continues to grow.
Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has dared the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a post on her official X handle on Tuesday, Yesufu expressed readiness for whatever the ruling party might bring.
"Whatever they bring, we are ready,” she declared.
According to her, Nigerians are tired of hunger, hardship and bad governance, stating that they are waiting to vote out the APC in 2027.
The co-convener of the BeingBackOurGirl campaign further declared that no amount of intimidation, rigging plot or attacks on opposition supporters will stop Nigerians from taking back their country.
Her remarks stemmed from the increasing tension over alleged attacks on opposition candidates in Sokoto and Ekiti states.
She warned President Bola Tinubu to stop playing politics with people's lives and focus on governance.
2027: ‘We are ready for whatever they bring’ – Aisha Yesufu dares APC
ICPC urges VCs, rectors to protect TETFund interventions
By Isaac Aregbesola
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged heads of tertiary institutions to ensure that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions are managed with integrity.
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the Organisational Integrity Management Capacity-Building Programme for officials of TETFund beneficiary institutions.
The event was organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), a training and research arm of ICPC with the support of TETFund.
Aliyu urged vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, bursars and directors of works to strengthen internal controls, address corruption risks and ensure that TETFund interventions deliver value for money.
He said tertiary education remained fundamental to national development, noting that resources invested in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were investments in Nigeria’s future.
“TETFund plays a strategic role by providing critical support for infrastructure, research and staff development.
“However, the success of these interventions depends not only on the availability of funds but also on the integrity and accountability of the institutions responsible for their utilisation,” he said.
He warned that weak procurement practices, inadequate project supervision, ineffective internal controls, conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement could undermine TETFund interventions, leading to wasted resources, delayed projects and eroded public confidence.
Aliyu stressed that organisational integrity went beyond personal morality and requires ethical leadership, effective systems and a culture that promotes accountability.
“Integrity must not exist merely in policy documents or institutional mission statements. It must be reflected in everyday decisions, administrative processes and the management of public resources,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC boss said while investigation and prosecution remained important, the commission was prioritising prevention through system study and review, corruption risk assessment and ethics compliance scorecards.
Aliyu also charged vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, bursars and directors of works to strengthen their institutions in five key areas.
He said that areas included institutionalising corruption risk assessment, strengthening internal controls, promoting transparency in TETFund projects, strengthening reporting mechanisms and translating knowledge from the training into practical reforms.
“The responsibility for preventing corruption does not rest exclusively with anti-corruption agencies.
“It is a shared responsibility involving institutional leaders, administrators, procurement officers, auditors and other stakeholders,” he said.
The Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sonny Echono, in his remarks urged officials of beneficiary institutions of the fund to ensure that every naira disbursed was traceable to tangible, high-quality outcomes
Echono, represented by Dr Kolpao Okunlola , Director Human Resources and General Administration, said organisational integrity remains central to national development, warning that public trust depended on responsible stewardship.
He stressed that funding alone could not guarantee results without accountable leadership, effective implementation and strict adherence to standards.
He urged institutional leaders to comply with procurement laws, financial regulations and TETFund guidelines, take responsibility for project outcomes and protect those who report misconduct.
He warned beneficiary institutions against political interference and personal gain in the selection of beneficiaries and execution of projects, citing his repeated warnings that when appointments are influenced by factors other than merit, the entire institution suffers.
Prof. Tank Ishaya, Vice Chancellor University of Jos and Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, urged beneficiary institutions to judiciously utilise funds allocated to them.
Ishaya identified honesty, transparency, accountability, data integrity, respect and fairness as core pillars of organisational integrity, stressing that integrity goes beyond money.
The Provost of ACAN, Prof. Sheriff Ibrahim, in his address of welcome said integrity in education referred to the adherence to ethical principles and standards by educators and students alike.
He identified honesty, accountability and fairness as essential to building trust and maintaining ethical standards across educational institutions.
Ibrahim urged tertiary institutions to work with ICPC to strengthen integrity management and address administrative corruption, embezzlement, examination misconduct, the monetisation of marks, sexual harassment and ghost workers.(NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
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