If I was Tinubu, I would have made education and healthcare free instead of giving palliatives- Adebayo Shittu

Former minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu has said he would have used the palliatives distributed by the federal government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy differently if he was the President. Shittu said instead of distributing palliatives, he would have made education and health care free for the poor.

According to the Vanguard, the federal government few weeks ago approved ₦5 billion for each state and the FCT for the procurement of grains as well as five trucks of rice to each state as palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

But speaking on Daily politics, a programme on Trust TV, Adebayo Shittu said, “if I had my way, if I was Mr President, instead of these palliatives which has been distributed, I would make education and healthcare completely free in the country. When there is free education, there is no family which will not be positively impacted. Because if people don’t have to pay for their children’s school fees, if they don’t have to pay for their medical welfare, then whatever remains with them should be used to eat. Because the advantage of using palliatives to ensure or guarantee free education is this. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the greatest politician Nigeria has ever produced said, educate the children of the poor, if you fail to educate the children of the poor, these children will ensure that your own children cannot sleep with both eyes closed.”

(From 10:20)

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