…PMS Price Hike

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday supported Tuesday’s hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), as it rejected all entreaties to prevent the Federal Government from implementing the new price regime of N617 per litre by voting overwhelmingly in favour of the increase, citing market forces as determinant.

The Green Chamber rejected an amendment motion moved by Rep.

Zakaria had argued that the price hike suspension would enable the House to invite the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), Mr Kyari Mele, to appear before it to explain the said increase.

Rep. Shettima Ali (APC-Yobe) seconded Zakaria’s motion, urging that the price hike be reverted pending the appearance of Kyari before the House, but the amendment was rejected.

The amendment sought was based on a motion moved earlier by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo).

Ugochinyere had noted that Nigerians woke on July 18 to find to their chagrin that petrol price had been increased from N537 a litre to N617 a litre.

He urged the House to constitute an ad-hoc committee to look into the incessant increases in pump prices of petrol by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL).

He noted that the price increases had affected transportation and prices of foodstuffs, leaving many Nigerians helpless.

Contributing to debate on the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, conceded that the motion was prompt.

He, however, defended the move by the NNPCL, arguing that market forces were the factors at play since the removal of fuel subsidy.

Rep. Amobi Ogah (LP-Abia) in his contribution also conceded that market forces determined the price hike.

When the speaker put the amendment motion to a voice vote, members rejected the proposed reversal and ruled in favour of N617 per litre of petrol.

The House also summoned Kyari and his team to explain to the House the rationale behind the increase.

The lawmakers also set up an ad-hoc committee with members drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country to determine the rationale behind the increase.

Probe 13- Year Remittances to NHF

The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the non–remittance to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and utilization of the fund from 2011 to date.

This followed the adoption of a motion titled ‘Need to Investigate the Non–Remittance to the National Housing Fund and Utilization of the Fund from 2011 to date’ sponsored at the plenary by Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa.

While adopting the motion, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc to carry out the investigation and report back for further legislative action.

Presenting the motion, the Lawmaker said “The House notes that National Housing Fund (NHF) is a Federal Government scheme, which entitles all Nigerians above the age of 21 years in paid employment to a low-interest, government-funded loan to developers to provide purpose-built homes that fit the incomes of low-and medium-income

“Aware that the Federal Government set up the scheme in 1992, and all Nigerians above 21 years old and working in the economy’s public, private and informal sectors are eligible to register and participate by contributing 2.5 per cent of their monthly incomes;

“Also aware that the National Housing Fund scheme presents a convenient and cost-effective opportunity for Nigerians, especially those within the low-and medium-income segment.

Read Also: Outrage Greets Fresh PMS Pump Price Increase

“Successive governments in Nigeria had introduced various measures and policies in the last four decades to combat the housing problem in Nigeria as it is believed that a well-articulated housing policy could stimulate economic growth, generate employment, redistribute the population and reduce urban degeneration;

Informed that to facilitate the deductions and remittances of contributions, each employer is expected to be registered.

“The self-employed individuals can, however, collect forms from any branch of FMB nationwide.”

He further added, that “concerned that from an assessment of the performance of National Housing Fund (NHF) in Nigeria carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the analysis of survey returns revealed that one in every five disbursed loans went into default despite the slight improvement of 20.9 percent witnessed in 2014 compared with 23.8 per cent in 2012,

“The rate of loan default witnessed a sharp increase to 45.8 per cent in 2015 and further to 59.6 per cent in 2016. Various reasons were provided for the high default rate experienced by the PMBs, demise of the mortgagor, unwillingness of the customers to repay, nonpayment by an employer and lack of constant follow

upon the mortgagor, amongst others.

“Concerned that there seems to be a gross default in the utilization and remittance of the National

Housing Fund which constitutes an offence under section 20 of the NHF Act.”

He then urged the House to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the scheme from 2011 to date which was unanimously supported by other members when it was put into voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu who presided over the plenary.

Ask FG to Lift Embargo on Employment

The House of Representatives has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lift the embargo on employment in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), of the Federal Government.

The House also urged the Federal Civil Service Commission and such relevant bodies to immediately act upon the President’s directive in this regard.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion calling on the President to Lift the Embargo on Employment moved by Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive during plenary on Wednesday.

Waive noted that the immediate past Administration amid the recession that hit the economy in the country due to the huge drop in the international price of crude oil at the time and Covid 19 pandemic placed an embargo on employment in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

He recalled that the Ninth House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the then President to lift the embargo on employment and that there are reports in social media that the embargo had been lifted but there is no evidence of any employment taking place whatsoever.

The lawmaker expressed worries that for several years there has not been any employment in the Civil Service of the Federation, thereby creating a shortage of manpower, especially in the junior and middle-level cadre as officers are promoted and some retire and others die.

He further stated that some Ministries Departments and Agencies DAs have resorted to engaging casual staff who are paid from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other sources, while it is sad that these casual staffs are non-pensionable, the act of spending government money without appropriation by the legislature for whatever purpose is illegal.

“The withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products has increased the hardship of jobless Nigerian youths and appreciates the measures planned by the President to alleviate the suffering of the masses. Lifting of the embargo on employment and going ahead to employ young qualified Nigerians should be a part of Mr. President’s rescue measures as some of the savings from the removal of the subsidy could be used in this direction.

The House however Mandated the Committees on Public Service Matters, Labour and Employment (when constituted) to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.