SERAP Urges Tinubu to Reverse Hike in the Price of Petrol
By Worldview Magazine
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP on Saturday urged President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to reverse with immediate effect, the recent increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol.
This was contained in a letter signed by the Deputy Director SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare.
SERAP according to the statement said that the petrol price hike represents a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations, especially as citizens face worsening economic hardships.
They have requested that President Tinubu direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.
“Instead of implementing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country and holding the NNPCL accountable for alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government appears to be penalising the poor.
“The petrol price hike has made it even harder for already impoverished citizens to meet their basic needs. This increase is not inevitable, as it results from the persistent failure of successive governments to tackle corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, along with the impunity of suspected perpetrators.
“Corruption in the oil sector, coupled with a lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds to support NNPCL operations, has led to repeated and unlawful increases in petrol prices.
“Holding the NNPCL accountable for alleged corruption and mismanagement would serve legitimate public interests. This price increase is causing severe hardship to those less well-off. We are concerned that, as Nigeria’s economic situation deteriorates, rising petrol prices will push people further into poverty.
“Your government is legally obligated to investigate and prosecute allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL and to ensure justice and effective remedies for victims of corruption. Investigating and prosecuting these allegations would align with both the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations” part of the statement read.
SERAP quoted that“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] mandates your government to conform to, observe, and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution. Section 15(5) requires your government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices’, including those within the NNPCL”
The statement added that “According to our information, the NNPCL recently increased the price of petrol from about N600 per litre to N855 per litre, with some instances exceeding N900 per litre. This apparent unlawful increase followed a reported refusal by suppliers to import petroleum products due to a $6 billion debt.
“The NNPCL reportedly failed to remit USD $2.04 billion and N164 billion in oil revenues to the public treasury, as documented in the recently published 2020 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”
SERAP also demanded that the President address its recommendations within two days or risk facing legal action to compep his government to comply with the request.
