Presidency keeps mum on PIGB status

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, ( Senate) , Ita Enang declined to confirm or deny reports that President Muhammmadu Buhari has returned the Petroleum Industry Governance BIll ( PIGB)

There were however strong indications last night that the Bill may have been returned to the National Assembly by the President

Enang who attended the All Progressive Congress APC caucus meeting hosted by the President late last night at the Presidential Villa, declined to confirm the present status of the Bill, but assured that he will speak today ( Wednesday) on the issue.

“ No, let me look at my papers. But definitely, l will speak on the issue tomorrow”

When reminded that the story was already trending on the Social Media, he simply pleaded to be allowed to look into his books before making any comments.

“ Please, Please, l have promised to speak on it tomorrow. Please , let us all wait until tomorrow,” he said.
Recall that the National Assembly had on Friday June 8th said it has transmitted the final harmonised copy of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.
Victor Nwokolo, Chairman, Petroleum Upstream of the House of Representatives and Hon. Akinlaja Joseph, who is the Chairman, Petroleum Committee Downstream in the House had told Journalists that the Bill was transmitted to President Buhari

“Everything has been cleared, it should be at the president’s table today bearing in mind that we are going on break today”

“It has gone through all the processes and the issue raised by the legal department has been properly taken care of. So, there is no hindrance anymore. All that is left is for the assent of Mr. President,” he added.

The National Assembly had noted that the three remaining aspect of the omnibus Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) from which the PIGB was created would be passed before the end of the current eight Assembly.

The PIGB is one part of the PIB that had been split into four.

If assented, the Bill seek to rebirth the governance framework of Nigeria’s petroleum industry which experts say was archaic and unfit for the progress of the industry.

The Bill which had been lingering in the National Assembly was first passed by Senate on May 25, 2017, while the House of Representatives passed its version on January 25, 2018.

Both chambers later set up conference committees, in line with extant laws, to harmonise the two versions.

The Bill seeks to provide for the governance and institutional framework for the petroleum industry.

It also seeks to unbundle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), provide for the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated, Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company and National Petroleum Company and Petroleum Equalisation Fund.
The regulatory Bill will also balkanize the NNPC and creates the National Petroleum Commission, which takes over the functions of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

If signed into law, the Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission will take over the functions of the Petroleum Inspectorate, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Tony Ailemen, Abuja