How long will we continue to approve N4trn in fuel subsidies? -Reps

How long will we continue to approve N4trn in fuel subsidies? -Reps

When the economy is in such a bad state, the House of Representatives said yesterday that it cannot continue to approve N4 trillion in fuel subsidies every year.

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NewsReport gathered that at a meeting of the ad-hoc committee investigating the state of the nation’s refineries, Ganiyu Johnson, the chairman, stated the House’s position.

He was disappointed that officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited, and other refinery operators were not present.

As a result, the committee ordered them to appear on the next adjourned date, warning them that failure to do so would result in sanctions.

“We do not want subsidy and if we do not want subsidy, then the refineries must be working. We must find a way to make them work so we can refine them locally. It is a shame.

“So, I want to implore everybody, let us work together as Nigerians. We owe our people, so we can end the issue of subsidy. That money for subsidy can be channeled to developmental projects if the refineries are working.

“On that note, I want to say that the NNPC and the operators of the refineries have this last opportunity to put things right. I am directing that you should buy the next invitation show up otherwise we would take parliamentary action on NNPC and the operators of the refineries because we cannot continue like this.

“You expect the National Assembly to sit down and approve over N4 trillion just for the subsidy, money that should be used for something else. We cannot continue.

”We have to find a solution to this problem. We must find a way out. And the way out is for us to join hands and make sure those refineries are working,” he said.