The House of Representatives in Nigeria on Monday began a special session to deliberate on the Federal Government’s announcement of an increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also referred to as Petrol.
However, plenary degenerated into a rowdy session, as lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) refused to allow the Minister of State For Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to be admitted into the chamber.
The minister was invited to brief lawmakers on the situation in the petroleum sector.
But the PDP lawmakers waved the National flag, singing protest songs and were hell bent on not allowing the minister entry into the Representatives’ chamber.
Kachikwu on May 11 announced a new price band of N145 per litre of petrol, linking the hike to the difficulty in getting foreign exchange and the inability of the nation’s refineries to produce at optimum capacity to cushion scarcity that has lasted for over five months.
He said that the deregulation of the sector would promote competition which he believes will force the price down within the next six months.
But critics said that the increase from N86.50 to N145 would cause further hardship.
Labour union is also insisting that the government should revert the increase or face industrial action.
The lawmakers, who were on recess had convened a special session to question the minister on the decision of the government to hike price at a period the nation was facing its worse petrol scarcity crisis.