The policy decision by the government to remove subsidy particular for the petroleum subsector of the economy has pitched the government and civil society in war of words built wittingly in their different arguments intended by each party to win the public to its side. The government have anchored their argument on the grounds that subsidy is taking away a significant portion of national resources which is greatly needed to develop other critical sector of national economy necessary to avoid total collapse. A review of current news daily and other extant literatures showed that the anti-subsidy removal posture of civil society is tied around i) that this policy if implemented will only add more pains to already burden general public due to a general increase in ordinary price level of goods and services; and ii) it is more of an expression of the distrust by civil society of the sincerity of the government to fulfill its promise by right utilizing the proceeds and gains of the policy for the common good. Against the backdrop of conflicting and opposing relations between the state (government) and civil society; this paper adopting the documentary and analytical research tool examined public policy making in relationship with civil society role vis-à-vis the present contending issue of fuel subsidy removal. It was therefore observed that given the present fiscal challenge of the Nigerian state the relational situation should be that of collaboration aimed at finding a viable option to mitigate the problem and stimulate economic growth and development rather than assembling arsenal to shut down the economy.

The policy decision by the government to remove subsidy particular for the petroleum subsector of the economy has pitched the government and civil society in war of words built wittingly in their different arguments intended by each party to win the public to its side. The government have anchore...