Senators and members of the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream and Gas Resources) have faulted the N.641 billion 2024 budget of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources presented before it on Monday.
The N9.641billion 2024 budget estimate of the ministry was presented jointly by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and the Minister of State Gas Resources Ekporikpo Ekpo during the sitting of the joint committee held at the House of Representatives.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Gas Resources Sen.Jarigbe Agom said the budget estimate fell short of expectations as it has left out important provisions that are meant to transform the economy and improve the living conditions of Nigerians affected by the recent subsidy removal and uncertain economic challenges.
He said, “We are aware that, on the first of October, 2023, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, made a promise to Nigerians in his speech, where he stated unequivocally his resolve to ameliorate the sufferings of the common man by introducing Palliatives to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.
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“Mr President also committed to building training workshops and providing CNG conversion kits to advance the natural gas revolution policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The joint committee observes with utter dismay the non-provision of those projects and palliatives in the 2024 Appropriations Bill which has been made available to the joint committee.
“The budget of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is neither here nor there. It does not reflect the policy direction of Mr President on the decade of gas and the use of Compressed Natural Gas as an alternative source of fuel.
He stated that the Steering Committee on the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative has also refused to brief the National Assembly on the activities and programmes they are carrying out.
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