The Presidency has stated that the fiscal policy documents in circulation is unofficial. But Daily Intel Newspaper observed that it fall short of disowning the document.
Nigeria has been experiencing worsening economic crisis since President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy, on his inauguration.
President Tinubu administration has since introduced a number of measures to curb rising inflation and food crisis without success.
The documents circulating the social media, and even widely carried by the traditional mainstream media claimed that In a latest attempt to address the spiralling cost of food and high inflation, President Tinubu has considered the suspension of payment of import duties on staple food items, drugs, and other essential items for an initial period of six months.
But reacting to the claims, the Presidency in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga,
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Thursday, urged the public to cease discussion on the document, saying none of the document has been approved by the Federal Government.
He said the documents are mere proposals that are still subject to reviews at the highest level of decision making.
The state reads in part: “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to two fiscal policy documents in circulation that are being given wide coverage by the mainstream media and social media platforms.
“One of the documents titled Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measure etc) Order 2024 is being shared as if it were an executive order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The other is a 65-page draft document with the title “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP), which contains suggestions on how to improve the Nigerian economy. President Tinubu received a copy of the draft on Tuesday.
“We urge the public and the media to disregard the two documents and cease further discussions on them. None is an approved official document of the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are all policy proposals that are still subject to reviews at the highest level of government. Indeed, one has ‘draft’ clearly written on it.”
The FG denied reports that the Tinubu’s administration has made provision of N5.4 trillion for petrol subsidy in 2024 budget.
The FG said “The government wants to restate that its position on fuel subsidy has not changed from what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared on 29 May 2023. The fuel subsidy regime has ended. There is no N5.4 trillion being provisioned for it in 2024, as being widely speculated and discussed,”
