Subsidy: Senate Meets GEJ, Demands April Date For Policy Implementation

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, SENATOR DAVID MARK.

ABUJA, January 10, (THEWILL) – The Senate Tuesday upped the ante in the battle between the federal government and protesters following the removal of subsidy on petroleum with a mandate to its leadership to meet with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to seek an immediate suspension of the full deregulation policy for the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry, which led to the cancellation of the subsidy on petrol.

The Senate, also asked Senate President David Mark, who is expected to lead other principal officers to the meeting with Jonathan Tuesday to urge him to settle for April 1, 2012, as effective date for commencement of the subsidy withdrawal policy, following the prevailing circumstances.

THEWILL gathered that senators gave the team meeting with President Jonathan a 48-hour ultimatum to report back to plenary on the outcome of the meeting.

These were the highpoints of the decisions taken by senators at an executive session which lasted about one hour. Sources at the meeting disclosed that Senators were concerned about the gridlock and near shut down of the nation’s economy, which the ongoing strike action has caused.

They were also said to have raised an alarm that the announcement of the subsidy withdrawal failed to take cognisance of the prevailing security situation in the country.

Consequently, the Senate suspended other matters slated for the day’s proceedings to allow its leadership to continue the dialogue with organised labour which it started Monday night and subsequently allow the Senate leadership meet with Jonathan.

However, the Senate will Wednesday debate the frightening state of insecurity in the land and other issues of national importance; this was even as Senator Mark warned of an imminent danger when people are encouraged through inflammatory statements to move from one region to another on the basis of faith and ethnicity.

Mark also vowed that the Senate would deploy its entire legislative arsenal to nab and bring to book all those that have abused the fuel subsidy proceeds.

Welcoming senators back from the Christmas and New Year holidays, Mark lamented that the Senate is reconvening at a trying period in the nation’s history.

“We are confronted by security challenges in different parts of the country, which are testing our collective resolve to live together as a united indivisible nation.

“The Christmas Day bomb attack at Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla and other attacks in different parts of the country especially the North East which has claimed many innocent lives, represents the most daring and costly attack by terrorists on fellow Nigerians.

“The attacks have instilled fear in the minds of ordinary Nigerians and threatened to impede the exercise of nation building. During my visit to Madalla, I saw first-hand the horrors of the attack and the wanton destruction it left in its trail. The current security challenge has reinforced the need to aggressively pursue economic development and simultaneously implement the war on terrorism,” he said.

On the removal of petrol subsidy, Senator Mark acknowledged the unpopularity of the decision among the Nigerian people, but however averred that the economic argument in support of fuel subsidy removal is compelling, adding that the political and social imperatives must also be considered.

“On the other hand, this government is compelled by a genuine drive to transform the country and expand opportunities for economic growth. In order to overcome this impasse, it is imperative that we engage each other honestly on this issue. In line with this, during the recess, I directed the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment & Productivity to interface with labour groups. I had also urged individual Senators to engage with Labour and Civil Society Organisations.

“The Senate Leadership has also been interfacing with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress as well as the Executive. These talks are ongoing and I hope that it will lead to an outcome that will be in the best interest of Nigerians,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Senate, Ndoma Egba Tuesday explained why the upper chamber has not taken a position on removal on fuel subsidy unlike their lower chamber counterparts.

The Senate Leader noted that the Senate was focused on ensuring that the nation makes progress adding that the issue for the upper chamber now is not whether it support the policy or not.

He however recalled that "some weeks back Senator Saraki had brought a motion on fuel subsidy which was debated. Subsequent to this, the Senate set up a committee to investigate the fuel subsidy scheme. To debate a matter that is ongoing by a committee will be undermining the mandate of the Senate to that committee", adding that the when deliberations begin on the 2012 budget it will be debated again. "So we have had two opportunities to debate the subsidy."

Senator Egba said, “the Senate will address the issue in all the ramifications; economic and corruption.”

Speaking on the outcome of negotiations between the leadership of the Senate, the Executive and organised Labour, Egba said the engagements have produced "positive movements" towards the resolution of the current impasse. He declined to give further details.

"The good news is that we have seen some movements on both sides.” On the nature of the movement he said, "It is too early to speak on that."

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded to the Senate the name of Honourable Omotola Abiola-Edewor, for confirmation as an Executive Director at the National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

The President also forwarded a letter titled: “Gazetted copy of the state of emergency (certain local government’s areas) proclamation, 2012.”

According to the letter, the President said, "The main features are the declaration of state of emergency in fifteen local governments in the federations; the continuation of administrative structure in affected local governments to carry out any order, instruction or regulation as may be issued by me from time to time during the period of emergency and the closure of national borders contiguous to the affected Local Government Areas."

Also, at today’s session, The Senate President also swore in Senators George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers, PDP) and Abdulazeez Sadiq Yar'Adua (Katsina CPC), who replaces Sen. Sani Stores (Katsina, CPC). Senator Sekibo was returned via a rerun election.

Recall that a court ruling about three (3) weeks ago ordered Sen. Stores to vacate the seat recognizing Sen. Yar’Adua, as the legitimate representative of the senatorial district.