I Know A Man That I Raised Who Is Nicknamed ‘Half Salary’ – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has revived the “Half Salary” nickname associated with former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, while taking a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his proposal to reconsider fuel subsidy.

Tinubu made the remark on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who recently secured re-election in the August 15 governorship election.

“In your state, I know a man that I raised who is nicknamed half salary,” the president said.

Tinubu was referring to Aregbesola, who governed Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and was formerly a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and an ally of the president.

READ ALSO: Aregbesola Congratulates Adeleke, Commends ADC Members After Osun Election

Aregbesola, now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), became associated with the “Half Salary” label during his tenure after the Osun government struggled to pay workers their full salaries.

The president brought up the nickname while criticising Atiku’s position on fuel subsidy, arguing that the proposal reflected a poor 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 abolished the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023 and has repeatedly defended the decision, arguing that the funds saved from the policy could be redirected to infrastructure and other public services.

The president said the former subsidy regime had left several state governments dependent on financial support from the Federal Government because they struggled to meet their salary and other financial 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 Tinubu, funds previously spent on subsidising petrol could instead be used to improve infrastructure and public services, including roads, housing, schools 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.