By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to investigate the utilization of the five percent user charge on petrol, which is meant for road maintenance across Nigeria. Hon. Waive Ejiroghene Francis, chairman of the committee, emphasized the urgency and necessity of the probe, citing years of non-compliance, lack of transparency, and allegations of fund mismanagement.
“The establishment of this Committee is not only timely but also necessary,” Waive stated. He expressed concern over the poor state of road infrastructure despite the existence of the user charge, which was designed to provide sustainable funding for road maintenance.
The committee will engage relevant government agencies, independent auditors, civil society organizations, and industry experts to ensure full disclosure and accountability. Where necessary, legislative and administrative recommendations will be made to address any identified anomalies.
Hon. Waive reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to carrying out its assignment with diligence and in the best interest of Nigerians. He also thanked the Speaker of the House for his support in establishing the committee.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, highlighted the House’s concerns over the persistent non-compliance with the statutory remittance of the charge. He noted that the committee was set up following a motion adopted on March 19, which exposed government agencies’ failure to enforce and remit the funds as required by law.
According to the FERMA Amendment Act 2007, 5% of the pump price of petrol and diesel should be allocated to FERMA and State Maintenance Agencies. However, despite repeated oversight efforts by the National Assembly, compliance has remained elusive.
The Speaker emphasized that the investigation would focus on determining the extent of the violation, identifying those responsible, and quantifying the amount of unremitted funds since the law came into effect. He urged the committee to conduct a thorough and fair inquiry, free of bias or political undertones.
The committee’s findings and recommendations will inform further legislative actions, aiming to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective utilization of the user charge for road maintenance in Nigeria.
