Subsidy Removal: House of Reps endorse N617 fuel pump price, gives reason

Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 19, rejected the motion to suspend the recent increase in the pump price of the premium motor spirit (PMS) from N537 to N617 per litre.

However, the lawmakers resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to be drawn from six geopolitical zones of the Federation, The Nigerian Tribune reported.

Reps reveal way forward as petrol sells for N617 per litre

The House resolved to investigate the sudden increase in the price of fuel and the resultant increase in transport fares across the country and asked its committee to propose palliative measures to be taken to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, The Punch reported.

Reps reveal why it suspended the motion

The House said since it had resolved to investigate the increase, it would amount to pre-empting the work of the investigative committee by ordering the suspension of the price increase.

Amid the upward rise in fuel prices and commodities, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said there would be a review of workers' salaries, and the federal government would do implementation in earnest.

This development was revealed at Akpabio's office when he was visited by the governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji and lawmakers representing the state at the lower chamber of the national assembly.

While speaking during the Tuesday, July 18 visit, Akpabio told Governor Oyebanji that the federal government would not rest on its ores and that they are entirely aware of the hardship plaguing the country and its citizens due to the subsidy removal.

However, he noted that removing the subsidy has become necessary due to the corrupt practices around the scheme.