.Reps Begins Probe Of Daily Fuel Consumption Volume
Nigerian Governors’ Forum, (NGF), says about eight states are benefitting directly from fuel subsidy,while the rest contend with the situation on their own.
Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, disclosed this during meeting in Abuja, with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), led by its President Comrade Ayuba Waba, to deliberate on the fuel subsidy removal
He said it has become necessary for the two groups, both NGF and NLC, to carefully verify all of NNPC’s estimates to ensure that whatever action is taken on subsidy, it would be the people that get direct benefits and not a few wealthy individuals and their cronies in the country.
He also said :”The nation’s economy is at the precipice and that it has become necessary for the two groups to carefully verify all of NNPC’s estimates to ensure that whatever action is taken on subsidy, it would be the people that get direct benefits and not a few wealthy individuals and their cronies in the country.
“There are raging questions of accountability associated with subsidy removal in the country and observed that the NGF and the NLC can jointly work together to proffer solutions that heal the economy and provide succour to the Nigerian people” he said.
The NGF chairman, who led a delegation of Governors Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State and chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, to the meeting,emphasized that governors cannot ignore the economics of petroleum, arguing that all the countries surrounding Nigeria including Niger, Mali, Cameroun and Ghana have their fuel pump price at the equivalent of a US dollar.
He also maintained that the partnership with the NLC must confront the perennial issue of palliatives for the common man towards cushioning the effects of subsidy removal on the citizenry stating that “not tackling the problem now is tantamount to postponing the evil day”.
“Finding succour for the ordinary Nigerian at this time is absolutely imperative and necessary now more than ever,” the NGF Chairman emphasised.
.
Speaking, the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who usually serves the NGF as its shining light on economic issues, on his part warned that we have a choice of continuing to behave like Father Christmas (Santa Claus) or take concrete actions on a problem that is permanently with us rather than throwing away N3tr on subsidy.
He suggested that the nation can, in the interim, increase productivity to reduce imports and create jobs.
Meanwhile,the House of Representatives,has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the actual volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called fuel or petrol consumed on daily basis to determine the level of subsidy being paid by the government.
Its Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila who announced the composition of the panel also set up another adhoc committee to investigate the actual state of refineries to ascertain what it will cost to bring the refineries back to life again.
He said that the time has come for the lawmakers to intervene in the issue, saying that it is only when this investigation is painstakingly carried out that the nation can determine the actual volume of fuel that is consumed daily in the country and the amount of subsidy being paid by the government.
He said membership of the Committee on fuel consumption, will be headed by Hon. Abdullahi Ningi (APC, Bauchi), with Hon. Ahmed Satomi, Hon. Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Hon. Usman Zanna, Hon. Leke Abejide, Hon. Uzoma Abonta, Hon. Chinda, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, Hon. Ibrahim Obanikoro, Hon. Akin Alabi , Hon. Dachung Bagos, Hon. Maki Yalleman, Hon. Dike Chisom and Hon. Prince Obi as members.
For the state of refineries, Hon. Hon. Ganiyu Johnson (APC, Lagos) is the head the panel, with Hon. Yusuf Buba, Hon. Fred Obua, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayowa, Hon. Haruna Dederi , Hon. Ibrahim Ishiaka, Hon. Ezenwankwo Okwudili, Hon. Wale Raji , Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Mansur Soro, Hon. Stanley Olajide, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, Hon. Olododo Cook Abdulganiyu, Hon. Comrade Aminu Suleiman and Hon. Johnson Oguma as members respectively.
The Speaker tasked members of the committees to speak to various stakeholders, and not rely on just figures being paraded around.
Gbajabiamlia said: “We will be setting up two adhoc committees, to address the issue of fuel subsidy. One will look into how much fuel we consume as a nation on a daily basis. We have had figures bandied here and there without any authenticity, before we can even begin to talk subsidy like I said , we need to know how much we are consuming. The second is to look into refineries and state of repair and determine what will be needed to bring our refineries back to life again.”
