Economy
Subsidy Removal Denial: Nigeria Must Begin to Reject IMF Policies—NLC
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its anger over claims by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it is not responsible for the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, in Nigeria, stressing that Nigeria must begin to reject the policies of the organisation.
Recall that last week, the IMF African Region Director, Mr Abebe Selassie, at a press conference at the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, absolved itself from the subsidy removal despite piling pressure on the federal government to take it out.
In a statement on Sunday, the frontline labour union in the country took an exception to IMF denial, noting that it was unfortunate that the government heeded the global lender’s misguided advice.
“The IMF seems to be distancing itself from the future backlash of these policies, but Nigerians are not naive; we recognize the destructive effects of its harmful strategies on Nigeria and Africa,” a part of the statement said.
“The IMF’s recent statement shows evasion, claiming Nigeria’s subsidy removal was a domestic decision while ignoring its significant influence on policy-making in developing countries.
“Despite this denial, the IMF often advocates subsidy cuts as necessary for fiscal sustainability, making its disavowal seem hollow in a country that has frequently complied with such recommendations,” the NLC stated in the statement.
“It is disingenuous for the IMF to deny complicity, especially since we have warned the government about the consequences of adopting these policies,” it added.
The union advised Nigeria and other developing countries to reclaim their economic sovereignty and resist externally imposed policies that fail to consider local contexts and the needs of the masses, noting that the government must implement policies that address the genuine needs of its citizens by prioritizing economic strategies that promote growth, social welfare, and equity, rather than austerity measures that result in deeper economic difficulties and social unrest.
“The IMF’s denial of involvement in Nigeria’s subsidy removal seems insincere, given its history of recommending similar austerity measures. We hope our economic leaders recognize that when crises occur, the IMF and World Bank will distance themselves, leaving the government to bear the burden.
“We urge the World Bank and IMF to stop stifling our nation so we can breathe freely. They have become a significant challenge for us, and we may soon be compelled to demand their complete withdrawal from Nigeria, as their policies consistently undermine our economy and sabotage both the people and the nation,” it submitted.
The NLC, headed by Mr joe Ajaero, argued that the gap between IMF recommendations and the reality in Nigeria highlights a major oversight in the fund’s economic policy.
By Dipo Olowookere
The price of crude oil on the global market dropped below the $90 per barrel mark on Friday after Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
About 20 per cent of the world’s total oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) consumption passes through this narrow body of water between Iran and Oman.
It was shut down by Iran after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on it in late February 2026.
For the past few days, there have been talks between the US and Iran over the reopening of the Strait. The Middle East country reopened it after Israel and Lebanon struck a deal.
This action crashed the price of crude oil today, with the Brent grade selling at about $88 per barrel and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) grade trading at $83 per barrel as of the time of filing this report.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr Abbas Araghchi, announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with the move already welcomed by President Donald Trump of the United States.
It will remain open during the ceasefire while further negotiations continue between America and Iran.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Minister posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.
This news will surely excite Nigerians, who have been forced to pay more to buy petroleum products since the war started, despite living in an oil-producing country.
The price of petrol jumped from about N827 per litre before the war to N1,250 and almost N1,300 per litre because of the Middle East crisis.
Dangote Refinery, which majorly supplies the local market, claimed it was buying crude oil at an international price.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising an aggregate expenditure of N68.32 trillion for the current fiscal year.
He also signed a separate bill extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026.
The budget allocates N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt service.
It further sets aside N15.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion for capital expenditure through the Development Fund.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, it was that, “The N68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt service. It allocates N15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.”
“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
“The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” it added.
The 2026 Appropriation Act took effect on April 1, with the federal government commencing full implementation in line with what the presidency describes as the Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Tinubu also assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act by three months to June 30.
The presidency said the extension would ensure the full utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure projects at advanced stages of implementation.
“The extension will ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.
“It will enable Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure,” the statement read.
He directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.
The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives, the statement noted.
President Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms and boost revenue generation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) says Nigeria has lost an estimated $226.734 billion in revenue from stalled crude oil production in Ogoniland over the past 32 years.
The group at the company’s monthly stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt called for an urgent, structured restart of operations in the region.
PINL described the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland as a “strategic national priority,” stressing that the process must be driven by host communities and grounded in environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, Mr Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations at PINL, said the scale of losses highlights both the cost of inaction and the opportunity ahead.
“Available data shows that over $226.734 billion has been lost due to the suspension of crude oil production from 96 oil wells in Ogoniland over the past 32 years. This clearly underscores both the economic cost of inaction and the immense opportunity that lies ahead,” he said.
Ogoniland, covered under Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, has the capacity to produce over 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Production was halted in 1993 following unrest and environmental concerns linked to oil exploration activities.
PINL outlined key conditions for restarting operations, including active community participation, sustained environmental remediation, adoption of community-based security models, and prioritisation of economic inclusion.
“The position of PINL aligns with growing calls from stakeholders in the Niger Delta for the Federal Government to restart oil production in Ogoniland in a manner that balances economic benefits with environmental justice and community interests,” Mr Mezeh added.
He further affirmed the company’s readiness to support the process, stating: “At PINL, we stand ready to support this process by applying our experience in stakeholder engagement and infrastructure protection to ensure a peaceful, secure, and sustainable resumption.”
PINL maintained that with the right framework, resuming production in Ogoniland could significantly boost Nigeria’s crude output, increase government revenues, and support broader economic growth.
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