Reps to probe hike in fuel price, Lagos lawmaker chairs Committee

The House is also set to probe circulation of alleged adulterated aviation fuel in the country.

The House of Representatives has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the recent increase in the price of fuel, headed by Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos).

Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia), made the announcement at the commencement of plenary on Thursday.

The development follows a recent unilateral increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol with fingers pointing at oil Marketers.

Recall that the House had on Wednesday, resolved to set up the Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the increment in the pump price of fuel from N537 to N617 sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Ikenga Ugochimyere (PDP, Imo).

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Rep. Ugochinyere stressed that Section 88 (1) and (2) of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly.

He also noted that Section 32 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, squarely puts the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) with the mandate of regulating and monitoring technical and commercial midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria.

The committee according to the leadership of the House, is expected to carry out an extensive inquiry into the matter and report back to the House.

In a related development, the House also announced the constitution of an Ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged adulterated aviation fuel in circulation, to be headed by the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano).

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