Confusion in NASS as PDP members move against Kachikwu
– The House of Representatives was in a rowdy session, as PDP lawmakers refused to allow the minister of state for petroleum into the chamber
– The lawmakers had began a special session to deliberate the federal government’s announcement of an increase in the price of petrol
– The Minister was invited to brief lawmakers over the fuel hike from N86.5 to N145
The House of Representatives in a rowdy session, as PDP lawmakers refused to allow the minister of state for petroleum into the chamber
Members of the House of representatives on Monday, May 16, denied Ibe Kachikwu, the minister of state for petroleum entry into the lower chambers.
The minister meant to brief the House of Representatives over the fuel hike from N86.5 to N145.
Kachikwu on Wedensday, May 11 announced a new price band of 145 Naira per litre of petrol, linking the hike to the difficulty in getting foreign exchange and the inability of the nation’s refineries to produce at optimum capacity to cushion scarcity that has lasted for over five months.
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Howeber PDP lawmakers waved the National flag, singing protest songs and were hell bent on not allowing the minister entry into the chamber.
Yakubu Dogara, the speaker of the House of Representatives is presiding over the plenary.
The House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, moved a motion to let Kachikwu in, but many lawmakers shouted him down.
This prompted the Dogara, to put the matter up for a voice vote. When Dogara asked if the lawmakers should allow Kachikwu to come in, majority of them thundered: “No! No!”
The members went into an executive session over the issue.
In a related development, Labour union is also insisting that the government should revert the increase or face industrial action. The unions also attacked the minister of state for petroleum resources for speaking from both sides of his mouth.
It urged the Buhari led government to: “Revert to the old price regime to reduce the suffering of the people and to consider this singular act of mindless pump price increase as a betrayal of trust.”
Additional report sent in by Chinenye Ugonna from Abuja.
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