Speaker of the House of Rep Femi Gbajabiamila says the House is set to do all in its capacity to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) is passed before the end of June 30, 2020.
Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the PIGB is of topmost priority for the house and that in the coming days the green chamber would commence its process of passing the bill as soon as possible. He noted that although the PIGB has been in the National Assembly for years, the current ninth Assembly is committed to putting it to rest.
He told a delegation of the experts advisory panel of the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter who paid him a courtesy call on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, in Abuja that the House needs the support and partnership of such group.
“The legislature needs to work with you. We need to work together. Oil and gas is an integral part of our economy. It remains the mainstay of our economy, and so we have to work together to protect it,” the Speaker said.
“It requires us to work with those who understand the nuances of that sector. For the oil and gas industry to develop, there has to be a symbiotic relationship. You have the knowledge and we have the capacity to make it happen.
“PIGB is on the front burner. We intend to start the process soon. We’re hoping that by June, we’ll be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Femi Gbajabiamila maintained that the House would “use the zeal and patriotism” with which it passed the Deep Offshore Sharing Agreement Law to pass the PIGB.
“We have to put Nigeria first, and that’s what we did with that bill (Deep Offshore), and that’s what we’ll do with the PIGB. On the side of Nigeria and on the side of the National Assembly, that’s where we’re going to.”
Photo Credit: Getty
