Nigeria: Lawmakers Move to Abolish PPPRA
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Monday, 09 January 2012 |
Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have moved to scrap the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) following the abolition of fuel subsidies on January 1. Deputy Minority Leader Kawu Sumaila (pictured) said that 200 of the house’s 360 members had indicated support for a bill to abolish the agency, which he plans to introduce as soon as the house reconvenes.
Sumaila said that the PPPRA should be abolished “in order to save Nigerians from the agonies created by this monster agency,” a clear reference to the recent removal of fuel subsidies, which more than doubled the price of premium motor fuel at the pump. “We have obtained the consent of over 200 members of the House who have endorsed the move and we are also talking to the Senate so as to give it a concurrence as soon as we passed it because we will give the bill an accelerated passage” he added.
Sumaila also claimed that the removal of fuel subsidies by President Goodluck Jonathan was illegal, as the Federal budget approved by both houses of parliament – which included fuel subsidies – was valid until March 31. “The powers of appropriation is constitutionally vested in the National Assembly. We will bring back the subsidy allocation,” he insisted.
PetrolWorld 09012012
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