Reps to investigate increase in fuel pump price as hardship soars
The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an Ad hoc Committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the increment of fuel pump price known as Premium Motor Spirt (PMS) from N537 to N617.
The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu (PDP-Imo) at plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion earlier, Ikeagwuonu said that section 88 (1) and (2) of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly.
He said that Section 32 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 saddles the Petroleum Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with the task of regulating and monitoring technical and commercial midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria.
“Tuesday July 18, 2023 Petrol Pump Price was increased from N537 to N617 by Petrol marketers, without conferring with the relevant agencies of government.
“Disturbed that in view of the current socio-economic challenges being faced by Nigerians, a hike in the price of fuel will heap great suffering and hardship on Nigerians,” he said.
The house resolved to invite the General Managing Director of the NNPCL to explain the hike in PMS price.
The lawmakers, however, rejected a call by Rep. Zakaria Nyampa (APC-Adamawa) to stay implementation of the new price pending the outcome of the investigation.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu mandated the committee, when constituted to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have been expressing their grievances online, particularly on Twitter.
On Tuesday morning, some woke up to the news of an increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit to N617/litre at some filling stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Reacting to the hike, the Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri tweeted, “President Tinubu has no control over the price of fuel. Those days are gone FOREVER. Market forces now control the price of petrol.
“So, the pressure should not be on the President over the cost of fuel. Let the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria deal with that. What we should pressure the President on is the minimum wage. The current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is grossly inadequate when compared to the current cost of living in Nigeria.
“President Tinubu calls himself Asiwaju, meaning the progressive that leads the way. It is not very Asiwaju-like when Governors are unilaterally increasing salaries to help workers cope with the rising cost of living, and Asiwaju Tinubu has not led the way. Nigeria’s minimum wage should be increased to at least ₦75,000. And President Tinubu must lead the way in facilitating that. Or he will soon lose the huge support base he started off with on May 29, 2023. If we have ₦70 billion for Senators and Representatives to buy furniture, if we have ₦65 billion to pay severance to Buhari and Osinbajo and their aides, after their disastrous eight years in office, surely, Nigeria can afford to pay both public and private sector workers a living wage.”
