NASS Petroleum Joint Committee Frowns At Unaccountability Of PCNG-I Steering Committee

The Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream and Gas) has frowned at the refusal of the Steering Committee on the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas – Initiative (PCNG-I) to be accountable by briefing the National Assembly of its activities and programmes.

Lead Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jarigbe Agom, in his remarks at 2024 budget defence session of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Abuja, said that the activities of the Steering Committee are shrouded in secrecy and the Ministers of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil and Gas) are totally in the dark about what it is doing.

He stated that the Steering Committee cannot account for the Funds already provided from the N500 billion approved for palliatives for the purpose of CNG advancement in the country.

He regretted that it had not made any progress and Nigerians are suffering because of the removal of subsidy.

He said in trying to get self-help, “the P-CNGI has embarked on a fundraiser, which comes up tomorrow, in order to extort funds from so-called stakeholders.”

He said as a parliament, they do not align with running government programmes with disregard of the provisions of the law.

“We cannot achieve what Mr. President wants, without providing for the CNG-Project and other very important Projects in the Appropriations Act.

“Doing so, will only open a window for fraud, which will impact negatively on the Citizenry.

“Let it be on record that the Steering Committee of the P-CNGI cannot account for the Funds already provided from the 500bn Naira approved for Palliatives for the purpose of CNG advancement in the Country,” Senator Jarigbe said.

He said it was the duty of the Joint-Committee to ensure the effective allocation of resources for the advancement of our nation’s petroleum sector.

“Our oversight function is predicated on fostering transparency, efficiency and sustainable development within the Ministry, NNPCL and its subsidiaries.

“I urge all stakeholders to engage in open dialogue and provide insightful inputs that will contribute to the formulation of a Budget that aligns with our national priorities.

Let us work collaboratively to address challenges, seize opportunities, and uphold the interests of the citizens we serve. I appreciate the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in advancing our Petroleum Industry.

“We are aware that on the 1st of October, 2023, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made a promise to Nigerians in a Speech, where he stated unequivocally his resolve to ameliorate the sufferings of the common man, by introducing palliatives to cushion the effect of the Subsidy Removal.

Mr. President also committed to building Training Workshops and provide CNG Conversion Kits, to advance the Natural Gas Revolution Policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Joint-Committee observes with utter dismay, the non-provision of those Projects and Palliatives in the 2024 Appropriations Bill, which has been made available to the Joint-Committee.

“The Budget of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is neither here nor there. It does not reflect the Policy direction of Mr. President on the Decade of Gas and the use of Compressed Natural Gas, as an alternative source of fuel. A Capital Budget of 5.8Bn for a Ministry that is critical to achieving the Natural Gas Revolution Policy of the Federal Government and ameliorating the hardship imposed on the Masses, smacks of unseriousness.

“Finally, we thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his lofty initiative of transiting from the use of Fossil Fuel to the use of Natural Gas, but will appeal that a proper framework be deployed, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, with a transparent Budgeting System.

“Once more, we want to state that the NNPCL is wholly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, so, the National Assembly is empowered, under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Over-Sight NNPCL and its subsidiaries,” he said.

The appearance followed a warning by the joint committee as the ministers failed to appear.

Olusola Akintonde