₦airaland Forum

The battle for re-election to the 8th House of Representatives stalled the consideration of the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill by the House months after the document was laid before the House, The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday.

But the House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, confided in our correspondent on Wednesday that the PIB would be reconsidered by members of the House of Representatives on Thursday next week.

The 23-member Ad-Hoc Committee on PIB had produced its report on March 12, 2015, more than two years after the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, inaugurated it on November 15, 2012.

The committee was chaired by the Chief Whip, Mr. Ishaka Bawa, a Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker from Taraba State.

But investigations showed that rather than give priority attention to the report, members kept it aside to focus on the 2015 polls.

The National Assembly and the presidential elections were held on March 28, while governorship poll took place on April 11.

Members reportedly rationalised that the elections were too close at hand for them to sit in Abuja and do any serious legislative duties as of the period the report was laid.

“The PIB is a serious bill. You will recall that a lot a controversies surrounded the first and second reading of the bill.

“There were issues bearing on the powers of the minister and the reservations expressed by oil majors, among others.

“This was not a bill we could rush in the midst of campaigning for re-election,” a senior National Assembly official told The PUNCH in Abuja.

It was gathered that, with the elections won and lost, most members were now putting the polls behind them to round off their session in the weeks ahead.

The PUNCH learnt that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, whose duty it was to preside over the Committee of the Whole to consider reports on bills, was also away in his home state, Imo, for the governorship poll.

“Recall that many reports were rescheduled in the days after we reconvened from the elections, not only PIB.

“The Deputy Speaker contested the governorship poll in Imo and had to stay behind for the supplementary elections.

“Now that he is back, the pace of work regarding pending reports for consideration will be fast,” another official added.

Findings showed that Ihedioha, on resuming work on Tuesday, directed that copies of the PIB be made available to all members before Thursday next week.

“The Committee on Rules and Business is already working on it. It is hoped that by next week the consideration will start,” the source said.

The House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, confirmed, when he was contacted, that elections delayed the report.

“Politics played a major role. Everybody was campaigning and running up and down for the elections. You will appreciate that it was not the desire of members to delay the bill. But, now we are set; by next week the consideration will be in progress,” Ogor told The PUNCH.

The report, among others, recommended that the President should be stripped of his discretionary power to grant petroleum licences and leases to operators in the country’s oil and gas industry.

http://www.punchng.com/news/fraudsters-dupe-people-with-my-name-says-el-rufai/

gfd

Getting busy now that Buhari has won election?

socialmediaman:
Getting busy now that Buhari has won election?

What do you expect? Everybody is now forming busy, all to seek the good face of GMB.

For how many years will they keep considering the PIB bill? These corrupt thieves should pass the bill already.

oh ok

I doubt if the PIB will be passed this year. I'm not deceived

Sweetguy25:
I doubt if the PIB will be passed this year. I'm not deceived

Sincerely, that bill will be till thy kingdom come...I don't just understand these reps at all....

lolaxavier:
The battle for re-election to the 8th House of Representatives stalled the consideration of the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill by the House months after the document was laid before the House, The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday.
But the House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, confided in our correspondent on Wednesday that the PIB would be reconsidered by members of the House of Representatives on Thursday next week.
The 23-member Ad-Hoc Committee on PIB had produced its report on March 12, 2015, more than two years after the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, inaugurated it on November 15, 2012.
The committee was chaired by the Chief Whip, Mr. Ishaka Bawa, a Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker from Taraba State.
But investigations showed that rather than give priority attention to the report, members kept it aside to focus on the 2015 polls.
The National Assembly and the presidential elections were held on March 28, while governorship poll took place on April 11.
Members reportedly rationalised that the elections were too close at hand for them to sit in Abuja and do any serious legislative duties as of the period the report was laid.
“The PIB is a serious bill. You will recall that a lot a controversies surrounded the first and second reading of the bill.
“There were issues bearing on the powers of the minister and the reservations expressed by oil majors, among others.
“This was not a bill we could rush in the midst of campaigning for re-election,” a senior National Assembly official told The PUNCH in Abuja.
It was gathered that, with the elections won and lost, most members were now putting the polls behind them to round off their session in the weeks ahead.
The PUNCH learnt that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, whose duty it was to preside over the Committee of the Whole to consider reports on bills, was also away in his home state, Imo, for the governorship poll.
“Recall that many reports were rescheduled in the days after we reconvened from the elections, not only PIB.
“The Deputy Speaker contested the governorship poll in Imo and had to stay behind for the supplementary elections.
“Now that he is back, the pace of work regarding pending reports for consideration will be fast,” another official added.
Findings showed that Ihedioha, on resuming work on Tuesday, directed that copies of the PIB be made available to all members before Thursday next week.
“The Committee on Rules and Business is already working on it. It is hoped that by next week the consideration will start,” the source said.
The House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, confirmed, when he was contacted, that elections delayed the report.
“Politics played a major role. Everybody was campaigning and running up and down for the elections. You will appreciate that it was not the desire of members to delay the bill. But, now we are set; by next week the consideration will be in progress,” Ogor told The PUNCH.
The report, among others, recommended that the President should be stripped of his discretionary power to grant petroleum licences and leases to operators in the country’s oil and gas industry.
http://www.punchng.com/news/fraudsters-dupe-people-with-my-name-says-el-rufai/

It will be a great thing if the bill is passed. These lawmakers usually get serious just at the tail end before a transition. I remember the FOI bill was also surprisingly passed at the last minute just like this. If this scales through before May 29th, GEJ would have regained a tiny fraction of his non-existent reputation.