Speaker House of Representatives Dr Abbas Tajuddeen, says the house has commenced move towards the payment of over N200bn to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN.
He made the statement while receiving leadership of the IPMAN on a courtesy visit in his office Abuja.
He said the parliament would intervene on the issues between the Federal Government and petroleum marketers, especially regarding allocation and debt.
Dr. Abbas Tajuddeen explained that a panel has been set up under the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, where relevant stakeholders would be engaged on the issues affecting the supply chain of Premium Motor Spirit in Nigeria.
The Speaker noted that the House was aware of the challenges IPMAN was facing concerning the allocation and supply of PMS by the national oil firm, known as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), assuring that necessary steps have been put in place to address the problems.
The number four citizen, who appreciated IPMAN for the critical roles they are playing in ensuring steady energy supply amidst bad roads and insecurity across the country, urged them to be patient as the current government has the Association’s best interests at heart.
“We want to plead with you to please slow down; to please soft pedal on your planned strike,” Speaker Abbas said, while assuring the association that the House would step into the matter”
In his remark, the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, earlier decried the alleged abuse of the petrol sharing formula by the NNPC.
Shettima noted that the original allocation formula for IPMAN was 50 percent, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria to receive 30 percent, while the NNPC was to retain 20 percent of the product.
He said IPMAN, with over 150,000 outlets owned by its members nationwide was capable of ensuring adequate supply to all the nooks and crannies of the country but it has been shot changed by the NNPC
The IPMAN President also lauded the Speaker for the planned intervention towards the payment of the over 200bn naira belonging to members of the Association.
COV/TSIBIRI
