Buhari explains slow pace of work on PIGB
President Muhammmadu Buhari has declared that his administration is applying cautious approach on the Petroleum Industry Governance BIll, PIGB to avoid mistakes recorded in previous government efforts at reforming the petroleum sector
The President while speaking when he received officials of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers NUPENG, led by its President Williams Akporeha, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, agreed that reforming the Petroleum Industry will unlock numerous untapped potentials for the nation, but noted that these reforms must be well thought out and must have the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians as its core objective.
“Such reforms cannot and must not be rushed if we must get it right. We are still suffering from the effects of many legacy policies that were rushed and passed without fully appreciating the consequences the provisions embedded in them.
“Whatever decision we take now will impact either negatively or positively on generations to come. The Petroleum Industry Bill was conceived to ensure Nigeria’s future generations are positively impacted by its oil wealth. It was never about short-term gains. I want to assure you that dialogue on the Petroleum Industry Bill is still ongoing. At the end, we will have a bill that the nation will be proud of”
Speaking further on the refineries, Buhari noted that “the Public Private Partnership approach we adopted to rehabilitate our existing refineries has taken longer than expected”
He revealed that the NNPC has concluded the process for selecting the private sector partners that will rehabilitate the refineries, adding that “ l am informed that they are working out finances and hopefully, work will commence soon”
He assured NUPENG that he will continue to support innovative ideas that will bring new refinery investments into the country, even as he called for suggestions from NUPENG members on how we can move forward.
“ As one of the architects of the Nigeria Contents Monitoring and Development Act, I am sure NUPENG members appreciate that a key principle of this act is the indigenisation of certain processes and production functions. Indigenisation means local value addition leveraging local resources where possible.
“The Act specified minimum local content requirements, including manpower, for all projects and contracts in the oil and gas industry. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board is fully empowered to ensure compliance. I will direct the Hon. Minister of State Petroleum Resources to review the issues you have raised and take appropriate action to ensure compliance with the Act by operators in the industry.
“ I urge that you submit any specific petition to the Minister of State with the assurance that such will be looked into diligently.
The President who said his administration is working hard to make business environment easier and friendlier for investors, both local and international, said it is a collective duty to provide constructive guidance to enhance operations of investors in the oil and gas sector.
“ Therefore in drafting any petition, I would ask that your submissions are supported with facts.
“ On security in the Niger Delta, I am sure you will all agree that pipeline vandalism has declined. We have, and will continue to promote peaceful engagement with the communities while at the same time maintain our readiness to respond to any hostile acts of sabotage.
NUPENG President in his speech earlier, frowned at the continued reliance on imported petroleum products rather than refining of petroleum products in Nigeria
He however, described Buhari as a Special surgeon brought in at a critical point when the country was bleeding profusely from the fatal injuries severally inflicted on her from various gunshots of corruption and its attendant malfeasance.
“Your excellency came on board and stop the bleeding putting our nation back on the path of recovery”
“ if no any other acknowledged it, we wish to formally affirm it and we are very proud of your unparalleled achievements of pulling our country out of recession silently and rigorously laying a sound foundation of fiscal discipline and prosperity for all”
He noted that every patriotic citizen should be worried about the rots in the petroleum sector adding that refineries in Nigeria have not been working, leading to capital flight due to importation of petroleum products”
“ We are exporting jobs to countries that are refining these petroleum products for us.we earnestly urge your excellency to rescue these refineries and make them work again “
He lamented the poor implementation of the Nigeria Content Act, describing the implementation as a “ disappointment”as this make young Nigeria graduates desperate and frustrated, to the extent of forcing them to embark of migration to Europe and America”
“ It is worthy to note that the unions in the Nigeria oil and gas industry worked tirelessly to ensure the passage of the Nigeria Content Monitoring and Development Board Act, but it was anticipated that it will support the interest of the Nigeria workers.
“ Unfortunately Sir, the reverse of the situation with the erroneous perception that the content of the Act was to create as many indigenous contractors as possible without minding the nature of jobs these contractors are giving to Nigerians”
“ According to him, “ even your Executive Orders of Nigeria first on employment issues is blazingly disregarded”
He accused the multinational oil companies of not providing jobs anymore for Nigeria youths especially those of technical fields, on permanent basis.
“ It is our prayer therefore for your presidential directives to ensure that the key conditions in securing contracts should be readiness to employ at least 25% of the Nigeria work force on permeate basis”
They also appealed to the President to overhaul the Act for inclusion in decent jobs, and overhaul the security apparatus to ensure a more effective monitoring of the nation’s petroleum sector
NUPENG also used the opportunity to announce the confinement of the title of “ Grand Comrade of the productive workers of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry “
NUPENG called on President Buhari to actualize the much awaited comprehensive reforms in the Nigeria oil and gas sector industry, which he said is long overdue.
“ Unfortunately, the much appreciated reforms of the Petroleum Industry BIll has been hanging in the air due to one controversy or the other”
He therefore expressed the hope that the President will wade in using his enormous powers to resolve the challenge for the good of the country.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja