House Inaugurates Panel To Probe 5% User Charge On Petrol

Oluwakemi Kindness

The House of Representatives has inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to investigate the remittance, utilization, and accountability of the five percent user charge on petrol, which is meant for road maintenance across Nigeria.

Speaking at the committee’s inauguration at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the chairman, Waive Ejiroghene Francis, emphasized the urgency and necessity of the probe, citing years of non-compliance, lack of transparency, and allegations of fund mismanagement.

“The establishment of this Committee is not only timely but also necessary. Over the years, the National Assembly has taken several legislative measures to ensure compliance with the statutory provisions governing this charge. Unfortunately, all such efforts have been met with persistent non-compliance,” Waive stated.

He expressed concern over the poor state of road infrastructure despite the existence of the user charge, which was designed to provide sustainable funding for road maintenance.

The committee, he assured, would ensure full accountability for the funds.

“This investigation is not a witch-hunt but a constitutional responsibility bestowed upon the House of Representatives. Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution empowers us to conduct investigations into public funds and expose any corruption, inefficiency, or waste,” he added.

As part of the probe, the committee will engage relevant government agencies, independent auditors, civil society organizations, and industry experts to ensure full disclosure and accountability.

Where necessary, legislative and administrative recommendations will be made to address any identified anomalies.

Waive reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to carrying out its assignment with diligence and in the best interest of Nigerians. He also thanked the Speaker of the House for his support in establishing the committee.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, highlighted the House’s concerns over the persistent non-compliance with the statutory remittance of the charge, which has negatively impacted road maintenance efforts in the country.

He noted that the committee was set up following a motion adopted on March 19, which exposed government agencies’ failure to enforce and remit the funds as required by law.

“Section 14(1)(h) of the FERMA Amendment Act 2007 stipulates that 5% of the pump price of petrol and diesel should be allocated to FERMA and State Maintenance Agencies in the proportion of 40% and 60%, respectively. However, despite repeated oversight efforts by the National Assembly, compliance has remained elusive,” he stated.

The Speaker emphasized that the investigation would focus on determining the extent of the violation, identifying those responsible, and quantifying the amount of unremitted funds since the law came into effect.

He urged the committee to conduct a thorough and fair inquiry, free of bias or political undertones.

“This investigative hearing should make strong recommendations on how to prevent further violations and streamline the remittance process to ensure that funds are accessible to the appropriate government agencies,” Tajudeen added.

He assured the committee of the full support of the House leadership as they carry out their assignment and expressed confidence in their ability to deliver a comprehensive report that would inform further legislative actions.