The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Federal Government of a plot to siphon N3 trillion under the guise of financing fuel subsidy.
Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, announced after the Federal Executive Council meeting (FEC) on Wednesday, that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPC Ltd) has requested N3trillion as petrol subsidy for 2022.
According to the Minister, because of the rise of crude oil price per barrel in the global market now at $80 per barrel, and also because NNPC’s assessment is that Nigeria is consuming 65.7 million litres per day, the country would end up with an incremental cost of N3 trillion subsidy in 2022.
Reacting to the announcement via a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the main opposition party, described the government’s request for the approval of the sum by the National Assembly as a scam.
The PDP said while it was not against the suspension of fuel subsidy removal, spending N3 trillion for subsidising was outrageous and an unpardonable crime against Nigerians.
It therefore demanded full disclosure of specifics of the subsidy templates, including details of the cost of importation of petroleum products into the country.
The PDP also urged the National Assembly to reject the request, saying approving such would be a great disservice to Nigerians who elected them as their representatives.