Jonathan’s action lacks integrity –Senator

The Senator Representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Olu
Adetumbi, has berated President Goodluck Jonathan for removing
the subsidy on fuel at a time the Senate was still investigating the
fraud that characterised the petroleum sector.
Adetumbi, who is a leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria in
Ekiti State and Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, in a
statement in Ado-Ekiti via e-mail on Wednesday, accused the
President of preempting the outcome of the investigation of the
lawmakers.
He said the removal of the subsidy on fuel lacked integrity.
Describing the action as callous, he that the President announced
the commencement of the policy as the nation nursed pains of
the Boko Haram’s terror.
The lawmaker added that the President ought to have stayed
action on the policy pending the outcome of the Senate
investigation.
The statement read, “In total disregard to the on-going
consultative process of the Senate to dig deep into the fiscal
challenges of fuel subsidy to the economy, the FGN has brusquely
gone ahead with the removal of petroleum subsidy with effect
from January 1, 2012.
“With a failed attempt to argue with facts and figures and
persuade the country, the president acted peremptorily and
made nonsense, the effort of the Senate to get to the bottom of
the perennial fraud of subsidy management which the senate
committee on petroleum is trying to unearth.
He said the sudden removal of subsidy was contrary to earlier
affirmations made by the President and the Minister of Finance
that the policy was undergoing review and that consultation was
ongoing with an indicative date of April 2012 as the likely time of
implementation.
Adetumbi said, “In a manner totally lacking in honour and
integrity that is expected of an elected government, the FG
sprung a New Year’s day surprise on a nation already reeling
under the brutal onslaught of Boko Haram and a worsening
human development indices.
“This Senate has been sidelined in this decision and its collective
mandate as the representatives of the people thoroughly
rubbished.
“The constitutional roles of the legislature is gradually being
eroded by a President that has the temerity to spend over N800bn
on subsidy outside the appropriation act during the yet-to-end
2011 budget.”
The Senator added, “The NASS and the people have asked
questions and request for explanations for this constitutional
infraction to which the President was yet to provide any answers.
“It will undermine the independence of the Senate and erode the
potency of its oversight functions. This invitation is a
contemptuous act of impudence aimed at a tactical erosion of the
constitutional role of the legislature.”