Senators on Thursday accused the Federal Government of sabotaging itself by refusing to settle outstanding debts totalling N800 billion to oil marketing companies.
This comes as the Senate has urged the Federal Government to direct relevant agencies to pay the subsidy arrears within two weeks.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by the Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Kabir Marafa on the need to avert the looming crises in fuel supply due to non-payment of fuel subsidy to independent marketers.
In their separate contributions to the motion, lawmakers criticised the Federal Government for not paying the subsidy claims by petroleum product marketers despite approval by the National Assembly since July.
Responding to the submission of Senate Majority Leader, Ahmad Lawan, that some people are sabotaging the government, two senators: Ibrahim Danbaba (PDP, Sokoto State) and Suleiman Hunkunyi (PDP, Kaduna State) posited that such saboteurs are within the government.
“Yes, there could be sabotage but it is also very clear if there is sabotage that it is definitely from within the Executive itself. It must purge itself of those within it that are trying to sabotage the activity of government,” Hunkunyi said.
It would be recalled that oil marketers had on Sunday gave the Federal Government seven-day ultimatum to settle outstanding debts totalling N800 billion, failing which depots would cease operation across the country.
The marketers, comprising Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPIs), said failure to meet the deadline would force its members to disengage workers from depots.
