THE House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected an amendment to a motion seeking to suspend Tuesday’s fresh increase in the pump price of petrol.
Nigerians on Tuesday woke up to meet a new price band on petrol ranging from N617 to N670 in various parts of the country.
Members voted against the amendment after Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu who presided over plenary questioned if it was in the place of the House to take such a position since pump price is controlled by the market forces.
A member, Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga, had moved a motion calling for investigation into the increases in the price of petrol since the removal of petrol subsidy.
However, the House resolved to carry out an investigation to ascertain the veracity of the increases.
In another development, the House also rejected a motion to set up an ad-hoc committee to collate the views of lawmakers, civil society organisations, as well as the public, and engage the government on the selection of the best palliative options to cushion the effect of removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.
This comes amid uncertainties by Nigerians and indeed members of the house who questioned how the funds approved for the president would be utilised.
Hon. Dennis Agbo, who moved the motion, had said it would be best for Nigerians to determine the best palliatives for them, just as he expressed concern about how little the proposed monthly cash handout of ₦8,000 can achieve for a selected household of five members under current potential inflationary pressure.
PDP Kicks Against Fresh Hike
Meanwhile the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that the N617 per litre of petrol not only excessive but also unacceptable as it said it cannot be justified under any guise.
The PDP made its stand known in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Wednesday in Abuja.
“Our party insists that the N617 per litre of fuel is excessive, unacceptable and cannot be justified under any guise. This is especially given the economic potentials and prospects within our country,” Ologunagba said, adding that even with the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, the PDP maintained that fuel should not be sold for more than N150 per litre in Nigeria.
He said that with deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potential national comparative advantage and expanded value chain in refining capacity, the price should not be more than N150.
Ologunagba said the rising cost of petrol has worsened the economic conditions of Nigerians and charged the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration to seek ways to stabilise and grow the economy.
The spokesperson also said the PDP was alarmed over the fall in the value of naira.
He explained that the situation had forced businesses and production to shut down, made citizens lose their jobs and crippled commercial and social activities.
According to him, millions of families can no longer afford their daily needs as food, medication, and other essential goods and services continue to skyrocket.
The PDP spokesperson said this was not the country that Nigerians yearned for and dismissed the argument of market forces and comparison of the price of fuel in Nigeria with other countries, saying the countries being mentioned have functional infrastructure, transportation systems and energy.
Ologunagba added that the currencies of such countries were very strong while their citizens earned far higher than what obtains in Nigeria. (NAN)
