You Cannot Fight Corruption With Corruption: Saraki Questions N2.4 Billion Fuel Subsidy Spending
Senate President Bukola Saraki has raised concerns over the Federal Government’s management of the fuel subsidy regime, questioning claims that Nigeria consumes about 50 million litres of petrol daily and alleging that the system lacks adequate transparency.
Saraki, who also served as Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, spoke during an appearance on AIT’s Kakaaki programme.
He argued that the reported daily consumption figure under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was significantly higher than the approximately 30 million litres per day reportedly recorded during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to Saraki, it was inconsistent to condemn the previous administration over alleged corruption in the subsidy programme while failing to subject the current system to the same level of scrutiny.
He maintained that subsidy itself was not necessarily fraudulent but said poor management and inadequate accountability could create opportunities for abuse.
Saraki also questioned reports that the Federal Government was spending about N2.4 billion on fuel subsidy, arguing that such expenditure should be properly appropriated and subjected to legislative oversight.
He said the Senate had established committees to investigate the subsidy system but alleged that efforts to obtain detailed information from the executive had repeatedly encountered difficulties.
“For two years, we made several representations to the executive that subsidy claims must be presented for appropriation,” Saraki said.
He accused the executive of relying on the concept of “under-recovery” to justify subsidy expenditure without seeking adequate approval from the National Assembly.
Saraki further argued that the executive arm of government must remain accountable to the legislature, saying the fight against corruption should be based on transparency and consistent standards.
Saraki Calls for Free and Fair Elections
Turning to the 2019 general elections, Saraki urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and ensure that Nigerians were given the opportunity to participate in free and fair elections.
He raised concerns about the simultaneous accreditation and voting process, arguing that it could create opportunities for electoral malpractice if not properly managed.
Saraki also called on INEC to clearly explain how election results would be transmitted and ensure that political parties and other stakeholders understood the process.
According to him, transparency would be crucial in strengthening public confidence in the electoral system.
Speaking on the Senate’s failure to override President Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Amendment Bill, Saraki said lawmakers did not have the required numbers because many senators had taken positions along party lines ahead of the elections.
He nevertheless maintained that the President should have signed the bill, arguing that credible elections were essential to Nigeria’s democracy.
Atiku’s US Visit
Saraki also dismissed claims that PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar travelled to the United States as one of his aides.
He described the allegation as political propaganda, insisting that Atiku travelled to the United States on his own merit.
According to Saraki, the visit was significant because Atiku’s previous inability to travel to the United States had repeatedly been used against him by his political opponents.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of relying on propaganda rather than presenting solutions to the challenges facing Nigerians.
Saraki Predicts PDP Victory
Saraki expressed confidence that Atiku would defeat President Buhari in the presidential election.
He pointed to insecurity, unemployment and economic difficulties as major issues that he believed would influence voters.
According to him, the PDP was gaining support in areas that had previously delivered large margins for the APC, particularly in the North-West and North-East.
Saraki argued that Atiku had a better understanding of the economy and possessed the experience required to create jobs, encourage private-sector growth and address the country’s economic challenges.
On Atiku’s absence from a presidential debate, Saraki explained that the PDP candidate had expected President Buhari to participate.
He said the party considered a direct debate between the two leading presidential candidates important because they represented the major contenders in the election.
Marafa Disputes N2.4bn Subsidy Claim
However, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Kabir Marafa, disagreed with Saraki’s claim regarding the amount allegedly being spent on fuel subsidy.
Marafa said findings available to his committee indicated that Nigeria was not consuming 50 million litres of petrol daily.
According to him, national consumption was closer to about 25 million to 35 million litres per day, depending on prevailing circumstances.
He also argued that it was unlikely that the Federal Government was spending as much as N2.4 billion every day on subsidy.
Marafa explained that if petrol was sold at N145 per litre while the landing cost was approximately N180, the subsidy per litre would be around N35 to N40.
Based on a daily consumption figure of about 30 million litres, he argued that the subsidy amount would fall below the N2.4 billion figure cited by Saraki.
Marafa said he did not wish to engage in a political dispute with the Senate President but maintained that the records available to his committee did not support claims of 50 million litres in daily petrol consumption.
He added that any subsidy expenditure being made at the time was being handled through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s operational framework.
