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ABUJA — The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against interpreting Nigerians’ patience with the current economic situation as acceptance of continued hardship, following a fresh increase in the pump price of petrol.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, the forum urged the Federal Government to reverse the latest hike, which has pushed pump prices past ₦1,430 per litre at retail outlets in some states and above ₦1,470 in outlying northern towns, according to reports tracking the increase.
The elders warned that another petrol price increase would worsen the economic pressure on citizens and deepen the uncertainty facing millions of Nigerians, many of whom are already struggling with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other basic household expenses. The statement came at a time when millions of Nigerians were already struggling with rising food prices, transportation costs and other basic household expenses.
“The patience of Nigerians should not be mistaken for acceptance of perpetual hardship,” the forum warned.
Elders Say Welfare Must Come Before Politics
NOSCEF said the Federal Government must make citizens’ welfare a central consideration in major economic decisions, arguing that political calculations tied to future elections should not outweigh the immediate needs of ordinary people. The forum said it wanted the government to listen more closely to public frustration and respond with policies offering real relief.
While acknowledging that the Tinubu administration had made efforts in some areas, Oibe said the scale of hardship still being experienced across the country showed that far more needed to be done.
Caution Against Being “Insulated” From Realities on the Ground
The elders also cautioned the President against relying on officials or supporters who might present a rosier picture of the economy than what citizens are actually experiencing, saying their own assessment was based on direct contact with communities across the country.
Broader Demands: Insecurity, Jobs, Infrastructure
Beyond the petrol price issue, the forum urged Tinubu to use the remaining period of his administration to tackle other pressing challenges, including the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity, and the deterioration of critical infrastructure. It argued that the country’s economic troubles cannot be solved through fuel price adjustments alone.
Alternative Revenue Sources Urged
The elders said that if the government needs additional revenue to fund its programmes and meet financial obligations, it should pursue sustainable alternative sources rather than repeatedly raising the cost of petrol. They argued that continually passing fiscal shortfalls on to motorists and traders at the pump erodes purchasing power, weakens consumer demand, and drives up costs elsewhere — including transport fares and food prices, as businesses that depend on fuel for transport and power generation absorb higher operating costs.
The forum called on the Federal Government to adopt alternative revenue-generating measures that reduce pressure on households and businesses, while giving greater attention to insecurity, unemployment, infrastructure deficits, and the rising cost of living — steps it said could strengthen government revenue without continually imposing new costs on citizens.
NOSCEF’s intervention follows similar recent pressure from other groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, which has also called on the Tinubu administration to urgently address the impact of rising petrol prices.
