Senate Kick Against N5 Fuel Charge, Steps Down‎ Road Funds Bill

Senate on Thursday stepped down Bill proposing N5 charges on each litter of Petroleum products as a way of raising revenue for maintenance of roads.

The Senate had last week began the consideration of the report on the bill last week before it was stepped till this week Thursday.

However, Presenting the report ‎for consideration, the chairman of Senate Committee on Roads, Senator Kabiru Gaya explained  that the planned N5 levy on every litre of petroleum products would not in any way lead to increase in the price of fuel as the charges  will be deducted from   source within the existing petroleum price template approved by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and  being used  by importers /marketers .

‎But, many senators while speaking on the report insisted that the proposal would be injurious to many Nigerians economically and vehemently kicked against the bill being passed for third reading by the Senate.

Speaking against the report,‎ Senator Kabiru Marafa who is also chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) declared that the proposal will further impoverished Nigerians.

According to him, sourcing revenues for road maintenance in the country should be limited to road sector itself and not extended to other areas as the proposed  N5 charges on petroleum products would regardless of the explanations given by Senator Gaya , lead to increase in the price of fuel and invariably worsened the hardship being faced by Nigerians.

Supporting Marafa comment,‎ ‎Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio said he had great reservations on the proposals and urged the Senate to be very cautious in handling the bill.

“I want to align myself with the submissions of other speakers. I have reservations about the bill. I do not want the chamber to just pass a law and it will not be effective. I had an experience with the Police Funds when I was a governor. Throughout my time as governor, I did not get any fund”, he said.

Consequently in line with the request of the sponsor of the bill, Senator Kabiru Gaya for its withdrawal, when the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the session put the question to a voice vote, almost all the lawmakers yelled ‘aye’, including members of committee on Works who signed the initial report, which recommended that the price of fuel be increased by N5.‎

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