A motion seeking the removal of the fuel subsidy regime by the incoming administration was rejected on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday.
The motion, which was sponsored by a member, Sunday Karimi (Kogi/PDP) and was titled: “The recurring crisis of fuel subsidy” was rejected by his colleagues.
According to the lawmaker, the only solution to the lingering nationwide fuel scarcity would be for the incoming administration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to muster the necessary political will to end the fuel subsidy regime.
He said: “As we speak, PMS (Petroleum Motor Spirit) sells in most places at the rate of 120 and 150 naira depending on where it is available which is against the official pump price of N87.”
The 2015 budget, which the House passed on April 23, 2015, had N145 billion subsidy in it. It include N100 billion was for subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol, N45 billion for kerosene.
The Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor (Delta/PDP), while supporting Karimi’s motion argued that the subsidy regime was draining the economy, adding that the huge funds being used for the fuel subsidy could be used for other important projects.
“How long will we continue to spend money we don’t have? How long will we allow oil marketers hold us to ransom? When will our refineries work? The money that we spend on fuel subsidy can be channelled to other crucial areas,” he said.
However, Hon. Osai Nicolas Osai (Delta/PDP) opposed the motion on the grounds that its timing was wrong and belated as the outstanding subsidy payment responsible for the fuel scarcity had been paid.
He said: “I disagree with this motion, because it is coming very late and standing on a very weak premise. The issue involved has to do with subsidy payment.
“The Minister of Finance and marketers were in a meeting, which ended yesterday (Monday) and that matter has been resolved. So, the House would be wasting resources and energy in trying to dabble into this matter.”
The motion was defeated when put to a vote by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided.
Reacting over the failed motion, Karimi expressed disappointment that other members deliberately refused to see its reasonability.
“My colleagues misunderstood the intention of the motion. The intention is that we should not say because this current administration is winding down, we should abandon our responsibility to the Nigerian people who are suffering now.
“The motion was thrown out because they felt that I am trying to shift the blame of this crisis on to the next administration, which was not the intention of the motion.
“My take was that there’s need to uncover the scam in the subsidy claims because this is something that we have been paying for years; yet we have all seen how this is turning out.
“On the sustainability of fuel subsidy, I will advise the incoming government to show courage and abolish it because it has failed to achieve whatever purpose it was meant for.
“Meanwhile, this government should not abandon Nigerians to their fate on this crisis by resolving the crisis as soon as possible.”
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