The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has dismissed calls by critics for her to step down from office to allow proper investigation into allegations of abuse in the management of petroleum subsidies.
Alison-Madueke, who spoke to journalists yesterday after the inauguration of the Special Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Task Force, in Abuja, also noted that the incidence of corruption and abuse in the subsidy process occurred in past administrations prior to recent adoption of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, by her ministry.
Said she “We live in a democratic country; everyone has the right to speak their mind both for and against any individual, particularly individuals that put themselves up for public office. And I must add that individuals that put themselves up for public office should be very open for criticism because without criticism we cannot grow.”
Throwing more light on what had transpired in the Ministry since her assumption of office she said: “The PPPRA came under the Ministry of Petroleum Resource less than a year ago. Prior to that, the agency was reporting to the Presidency, and had a Chairman of Board. Once it came under the ministry, we looked at it critically and put a new management in place and reshuffled its staff. “
She pointed out that the problem of corruption in the handling of petroleum subsidy had been existing for many years before the present administration. “It did not start in this administration. However, what we have done is to move in and attempt to put processes in place to have the place under control in the shortest possible time,” she stated.
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