PPPRA Lacks Constitutional Power To Determine Fuel Price In Nigeria — Falana, SAN

Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has revealed why the
Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) lacks the
‘constitutional power’ to determine the prices of petroleum
products in Nigeria.

The cerebral lawyer during an interview with Vanguard on Monday,
faulted the attempted announcement of petrol price by PPPRA
claiming the decision was ‘unconstitutional’ as the price
determination ought to have been done by market forces.

“With respect to the attempted fuel hike by PPPRA which has no
power whatsoever to make the announcement accredited to it, I was
made to understand based on security report that Nigerians were
prepared to challenge the increase before the government came out
to apologise.

“But as far as I’m concerned, the government is nearly buying
time because the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has insisted
that the prices of fuel be determined by the so-called market
forces.

“You’ll recall that when last annoucement was made, the
government came out to say, ‘we’re under high pressure from the IMF
and that henceforth, market forces would determine the prices of
petroleum products in Nigeria’. But it appears that the government
has realised that ultimately, it has to factor its sensibility,
sensitivity and concerned of Nigerians.

“If the government had thought that with the agreement reached
with the Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress there would be no
protest in Nigeria, that’s no longer the case.

“As we saw last year, the ENDSARS movement did not involve the
NLC or the TUC, yet organised one of the most successful protests
ever held in Nigeria. So, I’m convinced beyond any shadow of doubt
that any unpopular media would be fought by Nigerian people who
have been overtaxed by the government,” he said.

Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has revealed why the
Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) lacks the
‘constitutional power’ to determine the prices of petroleum
products in Nigeria.

The cerebral lawyer during an interview with Vanguard on Monday,
faulted the attempted announcement of petrol price by PPPRA
claiming the decision was ‘unconstitutional’ as the price
determination ought to have been done by market forces.

“With respect to the attempted fuel hike by PPPRA which has no
power whatsoever to make the announcement accredited to it, I was
made to understand based on security report that Nigerians were
prepared to challenge the increase before the government came out
to apologise.

“But as far as I’m concerned, the government is nearly buying
time because the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has insisted
that the prices of fuel be determined by the so-called market
forces.

“You’ll recall that when last annoucement was made, the
government came out to say, ‘we’re under high pressure from the IMF
and that henceforth, market forces would determine the prices of
petroleum products in Nigeria’. But it appears that the government
has realised that ultimately, it has to factor its sensibility,
sensitivity and concerned of Nigerians.

“If the government had thought that with the agreement reached
with the Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress there would be no
protest in Nigeria, that’s no longer the case.

“As we saw last year, the ENDSARS movement did not involve the
NLC or the TUC, yet organised one of the most successful protests
ever held in Nigeria. So, I’m convinced beyond any shadow of doubt
that any unpopular media would be fought by Nigerian people who
have been overtaxed by the government,” he said.