We have not approved fuel subsidy removal – Reps

BY BEN AGANDE

The House of Representatives, yesterday, said it has not approved the removal of fuel subsidy as insinuated in the Presidential media chat by President Goodluck Jonathan.

During his media chat on Friday, President Jonathan had alluded that the National Assembly would approve the removal of fuel subsidy.

But in a statement yesterday in Abuja, the spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed said the President’s statement ‘should be seen for all intents and purposes as his desire and not the position of the National Assembly.

The statement reads:”My attention has been drawn to Mr President’s media chat,where he was credited to have said that the national assembly would endorse subsidy.

“For the avoidance of doubt we in the 7th Assembly have not endorsed subsidy removal because it has not yet been debated in the House, hopefully the House would commence the debate when we begin to take on the 2012 budget after the Xmas and New Year break.

“Mr President’s view on National Assembly’s stand on subsidy should be seen for all intents and purposes as his desire since our processes on the burning national issue has not been concluded.

” We assure Nigerians that as their true representatives we shall continue to be on the same page with them on their dream of a better Nigeria” he said.