The Senate may reconvene over the recent increase in the prices of petrol and electricity tariff, The Nation learnt on Thursday.

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Our correspondent gathered the planned emergency session became necessary for the Upper Chamber to take a position on the price hike.

The Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC) on Wednesday announced an increase in petrol from N148.50 to N151.56 per litre while electricity tariff was increased from N22.00 to N66.00 per kilowatt.

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The increases sparked outrage with many Nigerians calling for an outright reversal.

Sources in the National Assembly said that the emergency session would be used to address the concerns of Nigerians over the price increases.

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The Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru (Osun Central), told reporters that he cannot confirm whether the Upper Chamber would reconvene as he was out of Abuja on a national party assignment.

Basiru added he was however in touch with the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

He said: “I’m currently in Imo State for an APC assignment. I’m out of touch. I can’t confirm whether or not an emergency sitting will be called by the Senate since I’m not in town.

READ ALSO: Suspension of planned implementation of electricity tariff hike: consumers hail NASS

“The President of the Senate called me a while ago. I’m not sure what he wanted to discuss with me. It may have been related to that. But I can’t tell. The Senate committee chairman on Rules and Business can confirm that.”

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Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Obinna Ogba, said the increases in electricity tariff and fuel price at a time the economy was yet to recover from the deadly effects of COVID-19, showed that government is highly insensitive.

Ogba said: “The country and indeed the whole world is facing a serious problem right now because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, these increases are not good at all. It is adding salt to injury.

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“The government is just showing insensitivity to the plights of Nigerians because by increasing the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff, the suffering of the people will become worse. The whole thing is not funny at all.

“You cannot put the blame on the agencies because there is no way any of the agencies can increase the price of its commodity or service without first getting directive from the leadership of the country.”

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