Ex-Finance PS slams gov’t over fuel hike, D500M subsidy claim
A press statement said government paid D350.1 million in fuel subsidies in April and will add D185 million in May, “bringing the total subsidy for April and May 2026 to over D500 million.” Camara dismissed the claim. “You are taking D16.00 per litre as revenue and still telling us you subsidised about D500 million for April and May. How much revenue did you collect in the two months from the same fuel sales? This action is simply taking from the same source you claim to be subsidising,” he claimed. He urged government to cut its D16.00 per litre take to D6.00. “It will reduce pump prices by D10.00,” Camara said. To offset the revenue loss, Camara pressed for austerity. He called for a revived vehicle policy to keep “a small fleet for essential government operations” and “drastic” cuts to fuel allocations and allowances. “I believe some authorities are taking too much fuel. At the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, my first surprise was seeing a Minister’s fuel allocation of D40,000.00 plus the allocation from CPCU which was in the range of D15,000 - 20,000,” he said. “If this still exists, such ministers will not feel the suffering of the masses. Now suppose this goes for almost all the sectors, then fuel allowance alone is taking a lot from our budget.” Camara warned the country is “in a very difficult time and the downside risks are unpredictable,” adding that “a revisit of the budget is critical.” He cited “too many uncontrolled agencies, commissions, and now centres.” He urged government to merge some institutions with parent ministries to cut subvention costs, and to revise budget lines for entertainment and recurrent spending across all sectors. “Applying vehicle policy will also reduce the cost of maintenance of vehicles which can be good savings for our budget. Be strong with the government travel press release. This takes a lot of government funds. Imagine a Minister travelling two times in a month with first class and per diem of 300 pounds,” he said. Camara argued these measures would cushion the fiscal impact of lower fuel revenue. He warned that failing to act now “will cost the government more than maintaining the current scenario,” as higher fuel prices would hit essential commodities and NAWEC tariffs. “I know it is not easy to apply austerity, but in difficult times like this, one should boldly face it,” he said.
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A press statement said government paid D350.1 million in fuel subsidies in April and will add D185 million in May, “bringing the total subsidy for April and May 2026 to over D500 million.”
Camara dismissed the claim. “You are taking D16.00 per litre as revenue and still telling us you subsidised about D500 million for April and May. How much revenue did you collect in the two months from the same fuel sales? This action is simply taking from the same source you claim to be subsidising,” he claimed.
He urged government to cut its D16.00 per litre take to D6.00. “It will reduce pump prices by D10.00,” Camara said.
To offset the revenue loss, Camara pressed for austerity. He called for a revived vehicle policy to keep “a small fleet for essential government operations” and “drastic” cuts to fuel allocations and allowances.
“I believe some authorities are taking too much fuel. At the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, my first surprise was seeing a Minister’s fuel allocation of D40,000.00 plus the allocation from CPCU which was in the range of D15,000 - 20,000,” he said. “If this still exists, such ministers will not feel the suffering of the masses. Now suppose this goes for almost all the sectors, then fuel allowance alone is taking a lot from our budget.”
Camara warned the country is “in a very difficult time and the downside risks are unpredictable,” adding that “a revisit of the budget is critical.” He cited “too many uncontrolled agencies, commissions, and now centres.”
He urged government to merge some institutions with parent ministries to cut subvention costs, and to revise budget lines for entertainment and recurrent spending across all sectors.
“Applying vehicle policy will also reduce the cost of maintenance of vehicles which can be good savings for our budget. Be strong with the government travel press release. This takes a lot of government funds. Imagine a Minister travelling two times in a month with first class and per diem of 300 pounds,” he said.
Camara argued these measures would cushion the fiscal impact of lower fuel revenue. He warned that failing to act now “will cost the government more than maintaining the current scenario,” as higher fuel prices would hit essential commodities and NAWEC tariffs.
“I know it is not easy to apply austerity, but in difficult times like this, one should boldly face it,” he said.
