Lawyer Idam Urges Tinubu to Reverse Fuel Subsidy Removal or Sack Finance Minister

Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam has urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the removal of the fuel subsidy or dismiss the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, over what he described as possible insubordination.

Idam made the call following Oyedele’s announcement of a 30-day petrol price discount at filling stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The lawyer argued that the intervention raised questions about the impact of fuel subsidy removal and the government’s approach to managing its consequences.

In a statement, Idam said Tinubu had to make a choice if he wanted to restore public confidence in his administration’s economic policies. He questioned whether the consequences of subsidy removal had been adequately considered before the policy was implemented.

“Now that the Minister of Finance has admitted, through the proposed fuel price intervention, that measures are necessary to cushion the effects of hardship on Nigerians, can President Tinubu now reverse the fuel subsidy removal or sack the Minister for insubordination?” Idam asked.

The lawyer argued that the proposed discount suggested that government intervention had become necessary to address the effects of higher fuel costs. He challenged the President to explain how the 30-day initiative aligned with the administration’s position on ending fuel subsidies.

Idam also said Tinubu should apologise to Nigerians if he considered Oyedele’s action an act of insubordination. He maintained that the government needed to clarify its position on the intervention and reconsider whether the existing fuel policy was serving the interests of citizens.

The activist further criticised what he described as panic-driven policy decisions, alleging that political concerns ahead of the 2027 general election could be influencing the government’s approach. He urged the administration to focus on addressing the financial pressures facing Nigerians rather than defending policies regardless of their effects.

“Leadership is not about defending a policy at all costs; it is about having the courage to admit when a policy is failing the people and the humility to change course,” Idam said.

Oyedele had announced the 30-day petrol discount at NNPCL-operated filling stations as an intervention to ease fuel costs. He reportedly described the arrangement as a plan to sell petrol at cost rather than a return to the fuel subsidy regime. The government’s position on the initiative and Idam’s demand for a reversal remain central to the debate over how best to address fuel prices and household hardship.