The Senate has thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari over the hike in the pump price of fuel to N145 per litre from N86.50.
Senate, while sympathizing with Nigerians over the hardship caused by the decision, urged government to urgently begin the implementation of palliatives contained in the 2016 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to sustain its ongoing dialogue with organised labour and other stakeholders to avoid imposing further hardship on the people with an industrial action.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over Tuesday’s plenary, said: “The Senate in a closed session deliberated on the increase in the pump price of PMS by the Federal Government and the threats by Organised Labour to embark on a nationwide strike over the matter and resolved as follows: “That we sympathise with ordinary people of Nigeria on the hardship they are going through. “
“Senate will engage the Federal Government to find sustainable ways of improving the welfare of the people of Nigeria.
That we call on government to continue to engage organised labour and other stakeholders to resolve issues in order not to ground the system and impose more hardship on our people.
That government should immediately start to implement palliatives or palliative measures contained in the 2016 appropriation act passed by the National Assembly.”
