Group urges FG to implement panels’ recommendations on fuel subsidy

Group urges FG to implement panels’ recommendations on fuel subsidy

By Stella Omona, Snr. Correspondent, Abuja

A rights organisation, Africa Network Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has tasked the Federal Government on the implementation of the recommendations of the reports of probe committees on oil fuel subsidy.

The reports include the National Assembly committees headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan, Ministry of Petroleum Resources led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Presidential committee led by Aig-Imoukhuede as aftermath of the 2012 January protest against removal of fuel subsidy.

Deputy Executive Director, ANEEJ, Leo Atakpu, said the workshop was parts of campaigns to end impunity in the oil subsidy regime.

It also reviewed the prosecution of cases investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force and noted the slow pace of prosecution of suspects by the courts resulting in no convictions, more than two years after thereby fuelling speculations that children of the big politicians seem to have escaped justice.

Participants expressed worries over the management of funds, running into billions of dollars, saved from fuel subsidy since January 2012 till date.

They noted poor information flow from government to the general public relating to oil subsidy fraud and corruption investigation and prosecution since January 2012 till date.

It therefore called on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government to demonstrate strong political will in pursuing fuel subsidy fraud and corruption cases to douse the impunity tag on the government.