The Senate has called on the Federal Government to dialogue with oil marketers with a view to bringing an end to the issue of subsidy payment.
The upper chamber also appealed to the government, to direct all the relevant agencies to ensure prompt payment of the subsidy arrears as approved by the Senate.
The lawmakers equally urged the oil marketers to suspend their planned indefinite strike and allow the government to take action.
Adopting a motion by Sen Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara), during plenary on Thursday, the Senate expressed concerns that if the issue was not addressed immediately, Nigerians would be at the receiving end.
Marafa, in his motion, said after the National Assembly approved the sum of N429 billion in promissory note as requested by the Executive arm to settle the subsidy arrears, the Debt Management Office (DMO) came up with another measure by engaging an international audit firm to screen the marketers’ documents.
Marafa noted that such development was an unfortunate one considering that the same documents were scrutinised and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) before being forwarded to the National Assembly for approval.
He said it appeared some vested interest was bent on sabotaging the government’s efforts at settling the debts, which he said, should not be allowed to happen.