23rd August, 2012
As residents of Abuja, continue to groan from fuel scarcity that has grounded the capital city for some weeks now, the National Economic Council, NEC has expressed its support for the determination of Federal Government to prosecute oil marketers who defrauded the nation through receipt of fraudulent subsidy payments.
NEC which statutorily is presided over by the Vice President also has as members the governors of the 36 States of the Federation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Minister of National Planning, Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice.
While briefing journalists at the end of the meeting on Thursday, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, said the council is in support of the actions of the Federal Government to rid the oil sector of fraud in the guise of subsidy payments.
The Federal government has blamed the indicted marketers for the ongoing strike threat by oil workers and fuel scarcity that has hit the Federal Capital Territory in the last one week.
He spoke to journalists alongside three other governors and the Minister of National Planning, Shamusideen Usman. Obi also revealed that some of the indicted marketers have started refunding the fraudulent payments they receive as subsidy to the coffers of government.
“From the report we got today, some have started refunding, it is a serious case that people were paid for vessels that were not anywhere near the Nigerian waters.
“The Council commended the Federal Government on its present stand in the prosecution of those who were wrongly paid subsidy money and on the need for them to refund it fully. And I think when Federal Government does a thing that is courageous and right, it should be encouraged and that can at least give it the courage to do more”, said Obi.
He added that NEC is in support of Federal Government efforts to clean up the entire value chain and processes of petroleum industry. The Federal Government, in a list published yesterday had listed 25 oil marketing firms it accused of collecting about N600 billion in fraudulent payments.
Some of the marketers are currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
NEC also approved the $500 million loan for the control of erosion in the country which Governor Obi said is interest-free facility from the World Bank. The loan is to be used to check gully erosion in the South East and other parts of the country.
The Ministry of Finance has also been directed to enter into discussions with Governors Forum beginning from tomorrow, August 24, 2012 to facilitate states’ access to such facilities.
NEC also agreed on the need for the states to showcase their projects and therefore approved the planned good governance tour proposed by Information minister, Labaran Maku. A committee headed up by the Akwa Ibom State Governor has been set up over the issue.
Following a briefing by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the SURE-P youth empowerment programme, the Council, according to Obi also endorsed the plan to launch the programme in the states to sensitise the people on the processes of job selection and payment to beneficiaries, beginning from 6 September, 2012.
Eleven governors were present at the meeting which was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, The governors present at the meeting include Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers, Peter Obi of Anambra, Martins Elechi of Ebonyi, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Aliyu Wamako of Sokoto, Isa Yguda of Bauchi, Idris Wada of Kogi, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna, Godswil Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom and Abdullaziz Yari of Zamfara. Deputy Governors represented most of the governors.