The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) says the removal of petrol subsidy remains illegitimate, unconstitutional and fundamentally anti-poor, despite the Federal Government’s insistence that there will be no return to the subsidy regime.

HURIWA says there was no national debate, broad-based consultation or acceptable referendum through which Nigerians agreed that petrol subsidy should be removed.

The association says President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the subsidy on May 29, 2023, the same day he was sworn into office, without any prior national consensus on the policy.

HURIWA therefore rejects the argument by the Presidency that the subsidy debate is permanently settled.

The association says the government cannot continue to impose incessant increases in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas while millions of Nigerians struggle with inflation, unemployment, declining purchasing power and worsening poverty.

HURIWA warns that the continued escalation of energy costs is aggravating the cost-of-living crisis and pushing millions of Nigerians deeper into economic hardship.

The association says the Presidency’s declaration that there is “no going back” on subsidy removal should not be used to shut down legitimate public debate over the consequences of the policy.

HURIWA says if the Federal Government insists on allowing further increases in the prices of petrol and other essential energy products, Nigerians have the constitutional right to organise peaceful public protests and demand policies that protect their economic and social rights.

The association calls on Nigerians to peacefully mobilise against the incessant hikes in petrol prices and demand the restoration of an appropriate and transparent form of fuel subsidy or other effective mechanism capable of protecting citizens from unbearable energy costs.

HURIWA says the argument that subsidy removal has generated trillions of naira for the federation does not, by itself, justify the policy if ordinary Nigerians are unable to feel its benefits in their daily lives.

The association notes the claim by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, that subsidy removal generated N15.8 trillion in resources for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025, with N5.4 trillion accruing to the Federal Government and N10.4 trillion shared among states and local governments.

HURIWA asks what measurable improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians can be directly linked to these enormous savings.

The association also notes the Presidency’s argument, as conveyed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, that restoring subsidy would create legal and fiscal complications and discourage investment in domestic refining.

HURIWA says these concerns should not be allowed to override the fundamental question of citizens’ welfare.

The association further notes that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has proposed a controlled intervention in the oil and gas sector rather than a return to what he described as the opaque subsidy regime of the past.

HURIWA says the proposal deserves serious public scrutiny rather than outright dismissal, particularly because millions of Nigerians are currently bearing the consequences of high energy prices.

The association says the debate must focus on how Nigeria can guarantee affordable energy, protect vulnerable citizens, strengthen domestic refining and prevent corruption and abuse in the management of public resources.

HURIWA also agrees that Nigeria must avoid the corruption, smuggling, rent-seeking and fiscal leakages associated with the former subsidy regime.

However, the association says removing subsidy without establishing an effective alternative social protection mechanism amounts to transferring the burden of adjustment almost entirely to ordinary Nigerians.

HURIWA therefore demands full transparency on the utilisation of funds saved from subsidy removal and insists that the Federal Government must publish verifiable evidence showing how the savings have been deployed to improve transportation, healthcare, education, infrastructure, wages, social protection and other essential services.

The association says Nigerians should not be asked to accept permanent economic hardship merely because government describes subsidy removal as a reform.

HURIWA warns that the continued increase in petrol, diesel and gas prices will deepen inflation, weaken local businesses, increase transportation and food costs and further erode the purchasing power of workers, pensioners and low-income households.

The association calls on the Federal Government to urgently review its energy pricing policy and introduce measures that will bring down the cost of energy without creating another avenue for corruption.

HURIWA says the welfare of Nigerians must remain the primary consideration in every economic reform.

The association also urges the government to respect the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly, expression and protest whenever citizens choose to publicly oppose policies they consider harmful to their welfare.

HURIWA maintains that economic reforms cannot be sustainable when the people are excluded from meaningful consultation and are left to bear the heaviest burden of those reforms.