Reps vow to continue with fuel subsidy probe

MONDAY, 30 JANUARY 2012 FROM AZIMAZI MOMOH JIMOH, ABUJA NEWS - NATIONAL

AS operators continued to unveil the scam in the fuel subsidy management at the House of Representatives, the leadership of the chambers has vowed to remain focus and forge ahead with the exercise.

The House decision is prompted by claims by some lawmakers under the platform of G-57 Transparency Group that the Lower Chamber is divided over the probe and that its findings would end up in trash bin.

In a reaction to the group’s charges yesterday, spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, the lawmakers dismissed as untrue speculations that the investigation of the management of funds allocated for petroleum products’ subsidy was exercise in futility.                .

Mohammed also said the claims that the probe had caused ripples among members was untrue.                    

In a statement he issued in Abuja, Mohammed, said the probe would be carried to its logical end, adding that all those who were involved in the sharp practices that rocked fuel importation would be exposed.                  

The House spokesman said the recent publications in some print media, credited to one G-57 Transparency Group, which attacked and discredited the ad-hoc committee on petroleum subsidy and by extension the House of Representatives were “mischievous and ridiculous.”                .

According to him, the Seventh Assembly since inception had touched on issues that affect Nigerians wherever they might be, hence its resolution to list up the legislative agenda that is targeted at the issues and factors that have impeded our development over time.

He said for the avoidance of doubt, “we want to place on record that the issues being raised by the publications are diversionary and lack focus. It would seem that following the stream of stunning revelations at the committee’s public hearing, several individuals who have profited and (continue to benefit) from the distortions in the management of Nigeria’s oil resources have not only become jittery, but are desperate to initiate moves aimed at aborting the findings of the committee.

SOURCE: The Guardian, 30 January 2012. http://ngrguardiannews.com/