Bowing to pressure, the Federal Government is now proposing to extend the period for the implementation of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, by 18 months.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, announced this on Tuesday while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja.
Speaking to State House Correspondents, the minister said the executive will propose an 18 months extension to the National Assembly for the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that was meant to kick start this February.
President Buhari had on 16th August 2021 signed the Petroleum Industry Bill into law.
Buhari’s assent to the bill was in furtherance to the passage of the Bill by both the Senate and the House of Representatives earlier in July 2021.
The PIA is expected to grow investors’ confidence in Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry and create more employment opportunities for the populace in the host communities.
Sylva explained that the suspension is to give all the stakeholders time to ensure that the implementation is carried out in a manner that guarantees that all necessary modalities are in place to cushion the effect of the PMS subsidy removal.
He said, “We are proposing an 18-month extension but what the National Assembly is going to approve is up to them.
“We would approve an 18-month extension and then it is up to the National Assembly to look at it and pass the amendment as they see it.
“With assent by the President on August 16, 2021, the PMS subsidy removal was therefore expected to take place effective February 16, 2022. However, following extensive consultations with all key stakeholders within and outside the government, it has been agreed that the implementation period for the removal of the subsidy should be extended.
“This extension will give all the stakeholders time to ensure that the implementation is carried out in a manner that ensures all necessary modalities are in place to cushion the effect of the PMS subsidy removal, in line with prevailing economic realities.
“The President assures that his administration will continue to put in place all necessary measures to protect the livelihoods of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable.”
Sylva, who chairs the PIA Implementation Committee, stressed that the decision of the executive arm of government to seek an amendment of the law was not politically motivated.
Rather, he explained that such a move has become necessary to halt the potential suffering of the vulnerable in society.
The minister believes other measures such as the Dangote refinery, the Port Harcourt refinery, and other modular refineries will have significantly come on stream by the end of the year.
In response to the extension, the Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended its nationwide protests slated for Thursday 27, and February 2.
The congress decided at its National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Tuesday.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who broke the news at a press conference last night hinged the decision to suspend the protests on the reversal of the Federal Government’s plan to stop the subsidy on petrol.
He said members of the NLC who had been mobilised would be demobilised following the decision to suspend the protests.
In the words of the NLC leader, “At the peak of very rigorous mobilization of Nigerians by the Nigeria Labour Congress and a host of her civil society allies, the government through the Minister of Finance yesterday, January 24, 2022, made a public announcement reversing the plans to increase petrol pump price.
“The position of the government was also officially communicated to the Congress with calls for further engagement. Following the reversal and reapproach by the government, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress met this morning virtually to consider the new position of the government’.
The NLC Chairman also commended all workers, the Nigerian people, and the civil society allies for “their unwavering solidarity and support during the struggle.”
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