The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) says
the long-awaited Petroleum Industry and Governance Bill (PIGB) recently passed
by Senate has “left out fiscal issues which remain the most important aspect of
the old PIB.”
Over 12 years as the bill struggled through legislative
sessions of the National Assembly, the bill was split, prompting CISLAC to
raise concerns that other components may never be attended to.
In a statement commending Senate’s recent passage of the
bill, CISLAC called on Senate to “immediately commence work on the outstanding
parts on which the passed Bill is silent as it had promised.”
CISLAC executive director Auwal Musa said work on the
outstanding parts of the bill “is the only way to demonstrate trustworthiness
and sustain confidence of Nigerian people.”
“We also call on the House of Representatives as a way of
urgency to consider the Bill. Alternatively, we urge the House to adopt the
Senate version to conclude the legislative process for onwards assent by the
President,” he said.
“We call on the President to promptly assent to the Bills
whenever they are transmitted to him after legislative process, as we believe
the Bill, if implemented, will provide appropriate legal and regulatory
framework in the oil and gas sector.
Musa added the bill passed by Senate reflects many of the
proposals put forward by civil society groups during the public hearing session
held on the Bill, especially the unbundling of the Nigeria National Petroleum
Corporation to separate her commercial role from her regulatory functions,
among others.
By Judd-Leonard Okafor
