President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, on Wednesday, disclosed that the National Assembly has started consultation with the Executive arm of government on a new version of the Petroleum Industry Bill to be introduced in the ninth National Assembly. Lawan made the disclosure during a meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who paid a visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja. Representatives on the IMF delegation are: Amine Mati, Senior Resident Representative Mission Chief for Nigeria; Jesmine Raman; Zainab Mangga; Nanrup Ibrahim; Osana Odonye; and Harrison Okafor. According to Lawan, the Ninth Assembly in its determination to see to the eventual passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill which defied passage into law since 2007, devised a strategy which deploys constant interaction and collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government. He added that the interface between both arms would birth a new PIB to be drafted from scratch, and which would be passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President before the end of the year. “Going forward, the Petroleum Industry bill as referred to, has defied passage over the years since 2007. “In 2011, there was another effort by the government, that bill was not passed as well. In 2015, there was a legislative effort and the PIGB was passed eventually, but at the end of the day was not signed. “So, we came up with a new idea in the ninth National Assembly, that the fact that the Executive tried by drafting a bill and bringing it here for two tenures, then the legislature tried to do it on its own, none saw the light of the day. “This time around, we should actually interact and collaborate more even before the bill is born. Let the Petroleum Industry bill be one of the Executive and Legislature, and that means starting to work on the bill from scratch between both arms of government. “We are in consultation already, and by the time that we are able to fashion out the bill, our committees will swing into action. “We believe that this time around, the ninth National Assembly will break the jinx and should be able to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill,” Lawan said. He added that the economy will get a boost when the National Assembly passes the Petroleum Industry Bill before the end of the year and is signed into law. Speaking on the relationship between the International body and Nigeria, the Senate President said, “IMF has been a friend of Nigeria for a long time. “Nigeria needs IMF, we are not contesting this. We have our own challenges and have to borrow resources to implement, particularly the capital part of our budget. “So, we always prioritize our budget to reflect our infrastructural needs. We want you to always be there to support us, we believe that you can give us advise that will help our economy.” Lawan also appealed to the International Monetary Fund to support Committees of the National Assembly in the area of capacity building for legislators. He noted that such support to relevant Finance Committees would assist in the discharge of oversight functions and guarantee prudence and efficiency on the part of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government. “The fact that the National Assembly is critical to the development of this country means that you should help us build our capacities. “Members of the finance committee should be able to have more capacities to discharge their responsibilities, and also when they engage Ministry of Finance or the Financial Institutions, they should be able to have very solid platform to exercise oversight critically to ensuring there is prudence and efficiency,” the Senate President added.
…….Lawan: N’Assembly begins consultation with Executive over PIB President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, on Wednesday disclosed that the National has started consultation with the Executive arm of government on a new version of the Petroleum Industry Bill to be introduced in the ninth National Assembly. Lawan made the disclosure during a meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who paid a visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja. Representatives on the IMF delegation are: Amine Mati, Senior Resident Representative Mission Chief for Nigeria; Jesmine Raman; Zainab Mangga; Nanrup Ibrahim; Osana Odonye; and Harrison Okafor. According to Lawan, the Ninth Assembly in its determination to see to the eventual passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill which defied passage into law since 2007, devised a strategy which deploys constant interaction and collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government. He added that the interface between both arms would birth a new PIB to be drafted from scratch, and which would be passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President before the end of the year. “Going forward, the Petroleum Industry bill as referred to, has defied passage over the years since 2007. “In 2011, there was another effort by the government, that bill was not passed as well. In 2015, there was a legislative effort and the PIGB was passed eventually, but at the end of the day was not signed. “So, we came up with a new idea in the ninth National Assembly, that the fact that the Executive tried by drafting a bill and bringing it here for two tenures, then the legislature tried to do it on its own, none saw the light of the day. “This time around, we should actually interact and collaborate more even before the bill is born. Let the Petroleum Industry bill be one of the Executive and Legislature, and that means starting to work on the bill from scratch between both arms of government. “We are in consultation already, and by the time that we are able to fashion out the bill, our committees will swing into action. “We believe that this time around, the ninth National Assembly will break the jinx and should be able to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill,” Lawan said. He added that the economy will get a boost when the National Assembly passes the Petroleum Industry Bill before the end of the year and is signed into law. Speaking on the relationship between the International body and Nigeria, the Senate President said, “IMF has been a friend of Nigeria for a long time. “Nigeria needs IMF, we are not contesting this. We have our own challenges and have to borrow resources to implement, particularly the capital part of our budget. “So, we always prioritize our budget to reflect our infrastructural needs. We want you to always be there to support us, we believe that you can give us advise that will help our economy.” Lawan also appealed to the International Monetary Fund to support Committees of the National Assembly in the area of capacity building for legislators. He noted that such support to relevant Finance Committees would assist in the discharge of oversight functions and guarantee prudence and efficiency on the part of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government. “The fact that the National Assembly is critical to the development of this country means that you should help us build our capacities. “Members of the finance committee should be able to have more capacities to discharge their responsibilities, and also when they engage Ministry of Finance or the Financial Institutions, they should be able to have very solid platform to exercise oversight critically to ensuring there is prudence and efficiency,” the Senate President added.
……..Senate confirms NASC, NCC nominees The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of nominees to serve as Chairman and Members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC). The confirmation of the nominees was sequel to the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, presented by its Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau. The nominees confirmed to serve on the National Assembly Service Commission include: Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, Chairman; Babagana Modu (Borno – North East); Senator Abubakar Tutare, Taraba- North-East); Hakeem Akamo (Lagos – South West); Tunrayo Akintomide (Ondo – South West); Atanomeyorwi Francis (Delta – South South) and Engr. Bassey Etuk (Akwa Ibom – South South). Others are Hon. Bailyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi (Zamfara – North West); Sani Saidu Kazaure (Jigawa – North West); Senator Julius Ucha (Ebonyi – South East); Auwalu Aliyu Ohindase (Kogi – North-Central and Muazu Is’haq (Nasarawa – North Central). The Senate, however, adopted the committee’s recommendation for another nomination to fill the South East slot declined by the Imo State nominee, Nnamdi Anyaehi. Meanwhile, the Senate also on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Professor Adeolu (South West) and Mr. Uche Onwude (South East) as Chairman and member of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Moments before the confirmation of both nominees, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC – Lagos West) protested the sudden removal without notice of the former Chairman, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, by President Muhammadu Buhari. He appealed for the intervention of the Senate on the matter, so as to give the former lawmaker and former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission the opportunity and privilege of tendering his resignation. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his response to the complaint raised by Senator Adeola, sympathized with the former Chairman of NCC over his plight. Lawan, however, explained that the request to allow Durojaiye resign his appointment, as proposed by Senator Adeola, was beyond the jurisdiction of the upper chamber to entertain. “The Senate did not initiate the nomination. The Senate received the nomination from Mr. President. The initial nomination of the former Chairman was only brought to the Senate to be confirmed at that time. “So, the issue of whether to have the opportunity to resign is entirely not in the hands of the Senate. However, I really sympathize with the situation, but I want to remind you, that the prerogative of nominations rests with Mr. President. “This Senate will always try to ensure that there is adherence to due processes. But I believe that this is a matter that can best be sorted out in the Presidency rather than in the Senate”, Lawan said.
…………Kogi: Senate wades into Bassa clashes, demands rehabilitation of affected communities The Senate on Wednesday waded into communal clashes in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State by demanding for the rehabilitation of affected communities. The position of the Senate was contained in resolutions reached sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the floor for consideration by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC – Kogi East). According to the lawmaker, “Communal hostilities ravaged most parts of the local government area in 2016 and 2019, rendering over 100,000 inhabitants of some of the communities homeless, leading to exodus of these inhabitants to other parts of Kogi State.” He added that media reports indicated that about 100 people were killed in clashes involving the Igbira and Bassa Komi people, and another 146 killed by ethnic militias, in addition to destruction of properties worth millions of naira. Senator Jibrin lamented that “educational institutions have been destroyed, with many buildings and other facilities completely burnt down, thereby making it absolutely difficult for the children of the affected communities to access educational facilities.” “The destruction of schools, health centers are obviously non-existent to cater for the health needs of the affected communities as the few hitherto existing ones have been lost to the hostilities, and this has increased the rate of mortality in the affected communities. “Markets, Petrol stations, shops and various business outfits in the affected communities have been completely destroyed, thereby throwing people to an inevitable state of economic helplessness.” The Senate in its resolutions accordingly urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to assist the affected communities with shelters, educational and health facilities. It also urged the Ministry to provide minimal seed capital s for the women and youths in the the affected communities, to facilitate their various economic activities.
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