The National
Assembly yesterday in Abuja said the delay in the Petroleum Industry Governance
Bill (PIGB) has been resolved and the bill transmitted to President Buhari
for
assent.
The bill, a
fraction of a four-part Petroleum Industry Bill suffered setback after the
House of Representatives and Senate passed it last month.
Speaking at
the 9th Abuja District Conference of Rotary District 9125, Deputy Chairman,
Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Industry Bills, Victor Nwokolo (PDP, Delta), who
is also Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream),
stated that the bill was delayed due to legal issues and the need for inclusion
of section that would make necessary sections conform with extant laws on
procurement.
According to
him, the bill should be at the President’s table yesterday as the lawmakers
embark on recess and was optimistic that the President would not delay in
signing the bill, adding that should he refuse to sign, they would apply
necessary options to ensure the bill becomes a law.
Nwokolo
noted that the other aspect of the bills are critical, adding that the National
Assembly would not be distracted in ensuring that the bills are passed.
Also
speaking, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources
Downstream, Joseph Akinlaja, said lawmakers would not give in to any pressure
that would frustrate the outcome of the bills, especially the host community
bill.
He said the
bills would be passed before the end of this administration, especially to
ensure profitability of investment in the sector.
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