By Thompson ABISOLA
Sen. Solomon Adeola has called for dialogue between the National Assembly and the Executive to ensure passage of the different tranches of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt at the end of oversight visit to Rivers and Bayelsa states.
The lawmaker warned that grandstanding would only lead to a setback as suffered by various bills of the national assembly in the past.
He said all hands must to be on deck to save the bill within the lifespan of the eight national assembly in view of the huge resources deployed to make it a reality.
“We put in so much to pass the bill then transmitted for assent, which was declined.
“For me, a bill of that magnitude not coming from the Executive that would be the major operator would definitely be of concerns, just as the President observed in the case of the PIGB.
“There were concerns that it was meant to usurp the powers of the president and ministers.
” So, I believe the two arms of government should have a roundtable, agree on the modus operandi that will make the bill scale through this time.
“There must be a rallying point where both arms will take a joint position so that we can unbundle this sector that is critical to the development of our dear nation.
” Some people might say there were public hearings on the bill but that is not enough. Until something concrete is done, the loggerhead will be there and the bill will suffer another setback, ” he said.
The efforts to pass the bill since 2010 when it was put forward by former President Olusegun Obasanjo have not yielded result.
The eight Assembly decided to pass the bill in tranches to make it easier for assent but the first tranche, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which was passed and sent for assent was declined over some concerns.
It said that with about seven months to the end of the eight assembly, there are fears that the bill, which is meant to reposition the oil and gas sector, might suffer another setback.
