President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revived the “Half Salary” nickname associated with former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola while criticising former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Tinubu made the remark on Thursday while receiving Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, few days after Adeleke secured victory in the August 15 governorship election.
“In your state, I know a man that I raised who is nicknamed half salary,” the president said.
The president was referring to Aregbesola, who governed Osun State between 2010 and 2018 and was previously a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a close ally of Tinubu.
Aregbesola, who is now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), became associated with the “Half Salary” label during his tenure after the Osun government faced difficulties paying full salaries to civil servants.
Tinubu brought up the nickname while responding to Atiku’s position on fuel subsidy, describing the former vice president’s proposal as evidence of what he called a lack of understanding of governance and the economy.
“I saw one of my opponents (Atiku Abubakar) now say he will go back to subsidy. I read it,” Tinubu said.
“That is a demonstration of a serious ignorance on governance and economy. Before I came here, 27 states were unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of pensioners, salary of workers.”
Tinubu, who removed petrol subsidy after assuming office in May 2023, has consistently defended the policy, arguing that ending the subsidy would release funds for infrastructure and other public services.
He said the previous subsidy system had left several state governments dependent on financial support from the Federal Government because of their inability to meet salary and other obligations.
“They come to the federal, capping hand, unable to do anything. Salary you pay for each families. They were at the local governments.
“They are in the states. We are at the concentration of population. They are in the states.”
According to the president, money previously committed to subsidising petrol could instead be directed towards roads, housing, schools, hospitals and healthcare.
“Take out the president. We got every other person. Ask common men, their families, to feed the infrastructure you embark upon on the road network, housing, school rehabilitation, hospital, health care pronouncements, resuscitation of health care, training of teachers, training of health workers to protect our vulnerable families,” he said.
Atiku has called for a review of the subsidy policy as part of his criticism of the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy.
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