SERAP Urges President Tinubu to Reverse Unlawful Petrol Price Hike and Probe NNPCL*

 

In a scathing statement, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to reverse the recent increase in petrol prices across Nigeria. The organization described the hike as "illegal and unconstitutional," and urged the President to use his leadership position to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the decision within 48 hours.

SERAP also demanded that President Tinubu direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL. This includes investigating the spending of the reported $300 million 'bailout funds' collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt owed to suppliers.

The organization argued that the increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country's international human rights obligations. SERAP emphasized that Nigerians have been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.

"The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival," SERAP said. "Rather than pursuing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country, and holding the NNPCL to account for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government seems to be punishing the poor."

The organization expressed concern that the increase in petrol price is pushing people further into poverty, and that it is causing immense hardship to those who are less well-off. SERAP argued that the increase is entirely inconsistent with the government's constitutional and international obligations to ensure the minimum living conditions compatible with human dignity.

"The arbitrary increase has placed a disproportionate burden on the marginalized and most vulnerable sectors of society, particularly those disadvantaged by poverty," SERAP said. "The increase is seriously jeopardizing their living conditions, as well as individuals' physical, emotional, and individual development, and intensifying and worsening socioeconomic conditions in the country."

SERAP emphasized that the increase in petrol price constitutes a serious human rights problem because of the intensity with which it undermines the enjoyment and exercise by Nigerians of their human rights and renders their civic participation illusory.

"The fundamental right to life includes not only the right of every Nigerian not to be deprived of his/her life arbitrarily, but also the right that he/she will not be prevented from having access to the conditions that guarantee a dignified existence," SERAP said.

The organization argued that the growing poverty and inequality in the country has continued to adversely affect the right of Nigerians to participatory democracy, and impede their ability to participate in their own government.

"Persistent increase in petrol prices keep people in poverty which in turn perpetuates discriminatory attitudes and practices against them," SERAP said. "Your government has a legal obligation to mobilize the maximum of the country's available resources to ensure people's socio-economic rights and to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Nigerians."

SERAP emphasized that the government has a legal obligation to probe and prosecute allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL, and to ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims of corruption.

"Investigating and prosecuting allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would be entirely consistent with the Nigerian Constitution, and the country's international anti-corruption obligations," SERAP said.

The organization cited Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution, which imposes clear responsibility on the government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. SERAP also cited Section 15(5), which imposes the responsibility on the government to 'abolish all corrupt practices' including in the NNPCL.

"Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, your government has a responsibility to 'secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity," SERAP said. "Section 16(2) further provides that, 'the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good."

SERAP noted that the NNPCL recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets, from about N600 to N855 per litre, and in some instances above N900 per litre. The organization argued that the apparently unlawful increase in petrol price followed a scarcity caused by the reported refusal by suppliers to import petroleum products for the NNPCL over a $6 billion debt.

"The NNPC reportedly failed to remit USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion of oil revenues into the public treasury, as documented in the recently published 2020 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation," SERAP said.

The organization urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to reverse the increase in petrol price and probe the NNPCL