The House of Representatives has raised alarm over the continued failure to remit the mandatory five per cent user charge from petrol and diesel pump prices to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), despite clear legal provisions.
Speaking at an investigative hearing in Abuja on Monday, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, criticised relevant authorities for consistently flouting Section 14(1)(h) of the FERMA Amendment Act 2007. The law mandates that five per cent of petrol and diesel pump prices be allocated to FERMA and state maintenance agencies—split 40 to 60 per cent respectively.
“Over the years, this section of the Act has not been complied with. This has negatively affected the operations of these agencies and, by extension, Nigerian road users,” Abbas stated.
He said the investigation followed a motion adopted by the House on March 19, which highlighted the lack of implementation and remittance of the fund. An ad hoc committee was subsequently formed to probe the matter.
Abbas emphasized the constitutional backing for the inquiry, citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, and urged the committee to “determine the extent of the law’s violation, the amount unremitted, and those responsible for it.”
He added, “The assignment for this committee is clear: Nigeria now looks up to you to ask the relevant questions and scan through the necessary documents.”
Chairman of the committee, Francis Waive, also expressed concern over the chronic underfunding of FERMA, which has crippled its ability to effectively maintain Nigeria’s extensive road network.
“Our roads are the lifelines of commerce and social integration. Their maintenance is not merely a policy directive but a national imperative,” Waive said.
According to him, FERMA requires about $880 billion annually for optimal road maintenance, yet received just N76.3 billion in 2023, N103.3 billion in 2024, and N168.9 billion in 2025—figures he described as “grossly inadequate.”
He warned that the current funding gap has forced FERMA into a reactive approach to road maintenance, resulting in worsened road conditions, increased costs, and serious inconvenience for commuters and businesses.
The lawmakers pledged to push for reforms that would streamline the remittance process and ensure reliable funding for critical infrastructure.
