Budget 2024: Ministry of Petroleum Resources Allocation of N5bn Inadequate to Address President Tinubu’s Natural Gas Revolution Policy, says Sen. Jarigbe
By Ndifreke BASSEY
Lead chairman of the joint-committee on petroleum resources of upstream, downstream and gas of the National Assembly, Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has stated that ministry of Petroleum Resources capital budgetary allocation of N5bn is grossly inadequate to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s natural gas revolution policy.
The Senator, representing Cross River north senatorial district, said there is urgent need for federal government to make deliberate efforts to transit from reliance on fossil fuels to dependence on natural gas, through effective and transparent budgetary provisions in a bid to turn the fortunes of the nation’s economy.
Jarigbe stated this this in his opening address when the joint Senate/House of Reps Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream & Gas), received a delegation from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources led by Ministers of State, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo at the 2024 budget defense session of the ministry of petroleum resources held at the National Assembly Complex.
He said President Tinubu’s promise of ameliorate the sufferings of the common man through introducing palliatives to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. And subsequent committal to building training workshops and provides CNG conversion kits, to advance the natural gas revolution policy of the federal government have become a mirage.
According to him, 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.
He said: “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. A capital budget of N5.8bn for a ministry that is critical to achieving the natural gas revolution policy of the federal government and ameliorating the hardship imposed on the masses smacks of seriousness.
“The Steering Committee on the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas - Initiative has also refused to brief the National Assembly on its activities and programs. Their activities are shrouded in secrecy and the Ministers of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil & Gas) are totally in the dark, as to the activities of the P-CNGI.
“In trying to get self-help, the P-CNGI has embarked on a Fund-Raiser, which comes up tomorrow, in order to extort funds from so-called stakeholders. As a parliament, we do not align ourselves with running government programs in disregards of the provisions of the law.
“We cannot achieve what Mr. President wants, without providing for the CNG-Project and other very important projects in the Appropriations Act. Doing so will only open a window for fraud, which will impact negatively on the citizenry. Let it be on record that the Steering Committee of the P-CNGI cannot account for the Funds already provided from the 500bn Naira approved for Palliatives for the purpose of CNG advancement in the Country.”
Commending the President for his lofty initiative of transiting from the use of Fossil Fuel to the use of Natural Gas, he said: “We appeal that a proper framework be deployed, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, with a transparent Budgeting System. Besides, we state that the NNPCL is wholly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, so, the National Assembly is empowered, under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Over-Sight NNPCL and its subsidiaries.”
Urging all stakeholders to engage in open dialogue and provide insightful inputs that will contribute to the formulation of a budget that aligns with our national priorities, Jarigbe called for collaborative efforts from everyone to address challenges and opportunities as well as uphold the interests of the citizens we serve even as he appreciated the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in advancing our petroleum industry.
In his presentation, the Ministers of State for Petroleum (has) Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed that the ministry received budgetary allocation of N9.64bn for 2024 which includes personnel, overhead costs and capital expenditure.
