Reps summon Finance Minister over fuel subsidy claims

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to make available before it all documents relating to subsidy claims from 2013 till date.

The Chairman, Special ad hoc committee investigating Petroleum Subsidy regime, Ibrahim Aliyu, made this known when the Director of Home Finance in the ministry, Stephen Okon, appeared before the committee in Abuja on Tuesday.

Aliyu ordered the minister to make herself available before August 16 with all the relevant documents in subsidy claims.

The chairman said the minister must answer the total amount released from the consolidate revenue account as subsidy payment from 2013 till date.

The lawmaker added that the breakdown of beneficiaries companies that received subsidy payments from the consolidate revenue account must be submitted before the committee.

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Aliyu further described as worrisome, the recent statement by the minister that the country would require N6.7 trillion to service subsidy.

He stated that it was imperative for Ahmed to appear before the committee to explain certain actions, adding that the subsidy would be borrowed for Nigerians to enjoy.

He added that the issue was a serious one that required the concern of everybody, adding that the committee was holding trust for the citizenry.

Okon, however, said he had to appear because the ministry did not want to pass information that was not properly processed before the committee.

He said he came to plead for an extension of time, adding that he was not mandated to make any presentation before the committee.

Okon said the minsitry would love to ask for additional time to collate information required before the committee.

The Star