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).
The
report was scheduled for consideration during plenary yesterday, as it was on
the order paper. It was however suspended for another legislative day due to
time constraint.
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.
A copy
of the report obtained by our correspondent revealed that 12 out of the 15
members of the committee have endorsed it.
Senators
who endorsed the report 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.
Under
the sources of revenue for the National roads fund, the committee recommended
as follows, “fuel levy of N5 chargeable per litre on any volume of petrol and
diesel products imported into Nigeria and on locally refined petroleum
products”.
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.
In the
report, Gaya explained that the road fund was designed to address the poor
funding of roads in the country.
He
said 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.
An
aide of the Senate President on Print Media, Mr. Chuks Okocha said
recommendation was still a proposal and that it has not been debated.
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