Senate May Hold Emergency Session over Petrol Price Hike

The Senate may cut short its annual vacation to hold an emergency session to discuss the last Wednesday’s hike in pump price of petrol from N145.00 to N151.60 per litre by the federal government, THISDAY has learnt.

This is just as a ranking Senator, Obinna Ogba, emphasised that the recent increase in both fuel price and electricity tariff showed the level of insensitivity of the federal government to the people’s feelings.

It was gathered yesterday that many senators had approached the leadership of the upper chamber of the National Assembly on the need for the Senate to take a decision on the fuel price hike.

A senator confirmed to

THISDAY on the condition of anonymity that representations had been made to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, on the need to hold an emergency session to discuss the latest developments in the country, especially the hike in both the fuel price and electricity tariff. The ranking senator said: “Yes, it’s true that we have approached the leadership of the Senate about the possibility of holding an emergency session to look into the issues of fuel price hike and increase in electricity tariff from N22.00 to N66.00 per kilowatt.

“We are doing this based on reports from our constituents, who believe that the time is not ripe for such increase, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period, and as their senators, we need to heed to their cries and act accordingly.”