Aug 17 2012
Okonjo-Iweala: oil marketers paid N42.6b
By Nduka Chiejina and John Ofikhenua, Abuja
Okonjo-Iweala
Many stations have refused to sell petrol in the nation’s capital.
The government is insisting that oil marketers indicted in the fuel subsidy probe will not be paid. The fuel crisis, the government said, is limited to Abuja.
Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters yesterday that “so far N42.66 billion has been paid to marketers that have been verified. Those who have queries or big question marks from probe committee will not be paid.
“Some of those who have been told have a case to answer are holding the country to ransom, they have resorted to cheap blackmail of government and government will not give in to that.”
The government, she said, “will look at those with slight infraction and see what can be done. “Government is willing to talk with those with slight infraction and they may continue to import but those with serious infractions should forget it because government will not give in to their blackmail.”
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said she would be meeting with some marketers because “government is open and willing to work with marketers but not willing to be blackmailed because there is no lack of willingness on the part of government to dialogue.”
To show that the government was ready to confront the oil marketers, she claimed are blackmailing the government, the finance minister said government “will be happy to publish the list of those that have been paid and those not paid. No association is bigger than Nigeria, and oil marketers cannot hold the nation to ransom.”
She admitted that government was owing some marketers but noted that her ministry “will net out debts because government is owing some marketers and some marketers are owing government so we will net out the debts to know who and what to pay.”
However, before the payments are made, the minister vowed that the finance ministry “will verify all payments in line with the demands of the people.”
Government, she noted, is willing to encourage patriotic investors interested in building refineries,
She said the federal government has released N300 billion third quarter capital allocations from 2012 budget.
A total of N704 billion capital allocation has now been released meaning that about 53 per cent of total annual budget has been released so far. The minister said “as at the end of July 2012, the utilization of the earlier N404 billion released is now 65.4 per cent, so it has gone up.”
She reiterated that as at the end of June 2012, the N404 billion released witnessed 56 per cent utilisation.
According to the finance minister, “this government is releasing the additional N300 billion as government’s commitment to full implementation of the 2012 budget and to make sure that the finances are available to the MDAs to execute their projects. MDAs have stepped up their pace of utilization of funds.”
She said President Goodluck Jonathan has authorised the expedited payment of August salary for all federal civil servants so that they can enjoy the holidays.
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke also yesterday urged oil marketers, whose action has culminated in fuel scarcity in Abuja to cooperate with the Federal Ministry of Finance to suspend their industrial action.
She spoke after the inaugural meeting of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Board.
While assuring Nigerians that the crisis has nothing to do with shortage of petroleum products, she said the NNPC and the Petroleum Products and Pipeline Marketing Company (PPMC) have enough stock in their reservoirs that could last between 40 and 45 days.
The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and the Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farms Owners of Nigeria (JEPTFON) on Wednesday warned the general public of likely fuel scarcity should the Federal Ministry of Finance fail to pay them their legitimate subsidy claims since 2012.
The Minister of Petroleum said: “It is with a great deal of concern that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has noticed the queues at our filling stations, particularly here in Abuja. I want to assure the Nigerian public that NNPC and PPMC have no scarcity of products. And that in fact, we have about 40 to 45days stock consumption in our reserves at this time.
“Having said that, it is clear that the Ministry of Finance is working very hard at this time to address the situation at hand. And I will like to appeal particularly to the marketers to please cooperate with the Federal Government , particularly as we go into ide-fitirel and to find a way and mean and work with the Federal Government of ensuring that the strike is brought to a very quick end.”
To the newly inaugurated board members of the corporation, Madueke said their appointment is a call to duty which also requires the support of the NNPC top management in steering the corporation in the desired direction.
She noted that despite the recent achievements in the sector, the corporation is confronted with many challenges.
The minister said “We must continue to ensure good corporate governance and efficient and judicious use of the corporation’s resources, as we await the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill into law.”
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Aug 28, 2012 @ 02:23:43
on subsidy ramvoel right from the initiation stage last year to the execution stage early this year. We have all heard different analysis from different sections and groups. The Government, Activist, Marketer, Critics, Antagonist, and other key players in the system(including Cabals as stated by the president). The only unanswered question is Whose analysis of SUBSIDY REMOVAL is more accurate and will help tackle the lingering unpredictable Economic and Social Problem that our beloved country is most likely to face in few years to come. Basically, i don’t choose sides when issues like this crops up. I rather stand either as an unconcerned SPECTATOR or be ELEMENTAL to a the cause for a progressive and positive change. Permit me to take you a little down history.In 2007, I had the opportunity to work as a Poll Clerk during the general election in the country. I had people who threw their weight behind the selection process on my behalf, but to their suprice, i rejected the offer (even if the remuneration was needed) because 1. I got the position not because i applied for it but because i had weight behind me. One of the INEC permanent official in my local government was also a close friend of my family as at then.2. I was newly admitted into the university(OAU, ile-ife).3. And most of all, my perception that the election would not be free and fair.In 2011, rather than watch the country drown in pool of corruption like i did in 2007, I decided to join the process and be elemental to a positive change that i seek. My quest for change pushed me into applying for the position of a Presiding Officer online. Two weeks later, I was contacted for submision of documents and interview with neither referral nor recommendation. It made me feel the change i seek has come. Frankly speaking, I started seeing the possibilities of positive change at the inaugural speech of the president elect in 2007, the person of Alh. Musa Yar adua(late), when he clearly stated that the electoral system that brought him into position is not free and fair.Afterward, i was also contacted for the screening and orientation exercise for the election officials. It was duly conducted and I was chosen to preside at a ward.That election brought in Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today. Based on my personal assesement at my own polling center and general perception of the whole electoral system, it was by every chance 100% credible.Today, the same change I perceive that day is what i perceive now. The same system that promised us a free and fair election and delivered for the first time in the history of Nigeria is seeking our support again. Speaking as a faithful Nigerian, I had supported the ramvoel of Oil subsidy since the era of president Olusegun Obasanjo. What he campaigned against all through his eight years in office is what president Goodluck Jonathan just achieved. Its obvious now that Baba also meant well.Without prejudice and bias, before the execution of the policy, we all noticed that things were changing gradually. Roads were getting better. Electricity is becoming more stable. Water boards were working perfectly. The system was picking up posively and favourably.I believe the ramvoel of oil subsidy would help torpedoe the rate of this changes and most importantly, checkmate so many fraudulent activities in the within the rank and file of the goverment and private bodies(From Oil bunkery to misappropriation of fund in all sector). The early effect of the policy might bite us a little but not as deep as the deadly injury the continuation would inflict upon us and the coming generations. Lets carefuly access the long term effect of this policy.With our knowledge from history, we can access the past, re-shapen the present and predict the future. Generations upon generations would rip the effect of our collective choice today. Generations to come would either remember and never forget us for our great sacrifies we all made during the cause of this historical event or never forgive us.To me, i wish there are other ways i could be ELEMENTAL to this cause. Infact, i wish i could be the engine behind the proper execution of the policy OR help checkmate exploitation of my fellow countrymen but am not in public office yet’.God bless Nigeria.God bless Nigerians.God bless our leaders.I stand to be corrected&contacted.