Senate panel wants fuel price increased to N150

The Senate Committee on Works has recommended an increase in the pump price of petrol from N145 to N150 for the implementation of the proposed National Roads Fund (NRF).

The recommendation came a year after President Muhammadu Buhari raised the pump price of fuel from N87 to N145 per litre.

The increase was part of the recommendations made by the Senate Committee on Works, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano) on the National Roads Fund (Est. Etc) Bill (SB.218).

According to the chairman of the committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya , the fund when established would "serve as a repository of revenues from road user related charges and other sources for financing, which shall be managed and administered for routine and periodic maintenance works on roads in the country".

The committee also recommended toll fees; a percentage not exceeding 10 percent, of any revenue paid as user charge per vehicle on any Federal road designated as toll road.

It further recommended international vehicle transit charges, inter-state mass transit user charge of 0.5 percent deductible from the fare paid by passengers to commercial mass transit operators and axle load control charges.

The committee recommended fuel levy of N5 chargeable per litre on any volume of petrol and diesel products imported into the country and locally refined Petroleum products.

The report was scheduled for consideration during Thursday's plenary yesterday, as it was on the order paper. It was however suspended for another legislative day due to time constraint.

It is revealed that 12 out of the 15 members of the committee have endorsed it and they are; Senators Gaya, Clifford Ordia, Barnabas Gemade, Mao Ohuabunwa , Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Ben Bruce, Gilbert Nnaji, Abubakar Kyari, Ibrahim Danbaba, Mustapha Bukar, Sani Mustapha and Buruji Kashamu.

Those whose signatures were not appended on the report are, Senators Olusola Adeyeye, Biodun Olujimi and Ahmad Ogembe. The report has been distributed to senators.

The recommendation is still a proposal and that it has not been debated.