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All the thirty-six state governors in Nigeria have said they no longer
trust the NNPC “to do what is right”— over subsidy payments.
The Governors want states rather than the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) to determine how much is paid as subsidy by government.
“You see, we are in the hands of these people (NNPC) and we are trying to
be cautious. Not just NNPC, even Nigerians are not helping matters because
when there is shortfall in the product, everybody will start making noise.
And you will not know why there is shortfall, said Abdulaziz Yari, Zamfara
governor.
The governors say individual state will determined the quantity of
petroleum product consumed in its territory as a basis for calculating the
subsidy to be paid.
“If we start to investigate, these people will create chaos that we will
regret and Nigerians will not look at the damage from the base. But
rather, they will start accusing government of laxity or not doing what it
is supposed to be doing.
“So, it’s not about investigation. It’s about knowing what’s going to
happen to future supply. And this supply, the destination must be set.
“That’s is why we gave the states the responsibility to go back and
ascertain the quantity needed by each and every state.”
The National Economic Council (NEC) led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,
which is currently in session is expected to endorse the move.
The governors who met Wednesday night on the platform of Nigeria Governors
Forum, at their Maitama, Abuja office, are uncomfortable with the amount
Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is claiming to pay as
subsidy as well as the corporation’s stated quantity of local consumption.
With dwindling accruals to states, NNPC has told the governors that it is
now paying subsidy on 60 million liters daily consumption up from 33
million liters a few months ago.
Briefing newsmen last night at the end of the NGF meeting which ended at
11:30pm Wednesday night, its chairman and Zamfara state governor,
Abdulaziz Yari, said “if states say our demand is 30 million liters, you
cannot say you brought 60 million liters for us.
“We are taking every situation carefully so that we don’t endanger the
security situation of the country and at same time, we do not play into
the hands of the NNPC.”
He said however that the governors will not be pushing for the
investigation of NNPC as the move may backfire.
“This is not the first time that a massive drop in trust has been linked
to the pressing issue of subsidy, said a governor of the phone.