The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru.
The summon followed a motion sponsored on Wednesday by a lawmaker from Kogi State, Honourable Sunday Karimi, who drew attention to the need to investigate the allegation of fuel subsidy payment by the corporation.
Mr Karimi was concerned that “the Federal Government claimed that it has stopped fuel subsidy payment and it is the NNPC that is paying subsidy through its routine trading activities.”
He was also worried about claims that such payment does not “require budgetary approval”, while motion gained the support of a majority of the lawmakers.
Kachikwu and Baru were consequently directed to appear before a Joint Committee of the House to explain the current subsidy payment.
Both men were also asked to account for the funds spent on subsidy payment since January 2017 to date.
The House, however, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to formally request for approval of budgetary provision for fuel subsidy in the 2018 Appropriation Bill, if there is a need for such.
