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ACN Asks FG to Send Petroleum Minister on Compulsory Leave

The Action Congress of Nigeria has asked the Federal Government to send the Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke on compulsory leave, … Continue reading ACN Asks FG to Send Petroleum Minister on Compulsory Leave


Diezani Alison

The Action Congress of Nigeria has asked the Federal Government to send the Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke on compulsory leave, as well as the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Lagos.

Diezani Alison

Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the National Secretary of the party, Mr. Lawan Shuaibu says it is impossible for the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources while the minister remains in office.

The opposition party also appealed to the National Assembly Public Accounts committee to investigate the KPMG report and ensure the prosecution of whoever authorized the payment of the subsidy that rose from N245 billion to N1.3 trillion in the 2011 budget without appropriation.

During a presentation to the House of Representatives’ ad-hoc committee investigating the subsidy regime, petroleum minister Madueke argued that the exorbitant amount was due in large part to payments made on Kerosene subsidy. Speaking to the committee, Madueke said “the 1.3 trillion represents both PMS and Kerosene together,” adding that the payments of Kerosene subsidy in arrears “created the spike last year”.

In her presentations she said the NNPC was trying to recover the 2008 and 2009arrears, which it had until then carried solely. The arrear payments from both years amounted to N250 billion she said, and said additional current subsidy payments brought the total figure of Kerosene subsidy to slightly over N300 billion.

The petroleum ministers as well as finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have both come under fire as the House and indeed Nigerians at large have demanded answers on how the funds were disbursed and where the corrupt loop holes lie.

The ad-hoc committee’s probe, investigating the subsidy regime is ongoing, and the finance minister is expected to appear before the committee on 19 January 2012.