The Senate has asked its committee on gas to immediately begin investigations to unravel how the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) diverted the dividend from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to fund petroleum subsidy.
This follows a publication by online media, Premium times, alleging that the current administration diverted the sum of $1.05 billion (N378 billion at N360 to a dollar) to fund subsidy payment on petroleum products and to boost fuel supply.
According the publication, the National Assembly and state were not consulted before the funds was disbursed.
Raising a Point of Order during Tuesday’s Legislative proceedings, the Chairman of the Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Akpan, asked the Upper Chamber to give approval for the committee to investigate the withdrawal and payments.
“Mr President, the NLNG dividends account proceeds belongs to the three tiers of government and comes under the consolidated revenue fund account. Therefore, any unauthorised withdrawal from this account without the approval of the National Assembly or any other structure of government is illegal.
“I therefore seek the leave of the Mr President to allow the senate committee on gas to investigate this withdrawal and other withdrawals and the way and manner NLNG proceeds is treated by the NNPC and report back to the senate,” Mr Akpan said Tuesday.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki subsequently approved the request.
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