APC can solve Nigeria’s economic woes – Tinubu

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that the party will not sacrifice competence for zoning in choosing leaders for the National Assembly.

Tinubu, who said this in an interview with reporters, in Abuja, on Thursday, also added that the APC had the capacity to address the nation’s economic woes.

He explained that the APC was determined to ensure that merit, character and qualities which a leader must have, were not compromised.

The former Lagos State governor also assured Nigerians that the incoming administration would confront the nation’s economic challenges “aggressively.”

According to him, as a loyal party man, he would not do anything to cast the party in a bad light; noting that all the issues currently on the front-burner would be looked at critically.

Tinubu said, “The nation is expecting us to take a decisive leadership decision and make one meritoriously, merit will not be compromised, you have to be competent, you have to possess the kind of character, attributes to the leadership, we have to be pan-Nigerian and be a very solid character to lead the National Assembly and that is what we are talking about.

“It’s not zoning to compromise quality of leadership and competency of an individual.

“I’m not to speak, not to go further on that, I believe we have a very determined party leadership we have resolved to follow our leadership and the criteria set by that leadership including myself, nthat we would not use zoning to determine and compromise the credibility and the qualification of an individual.”

He said what would be done would be all encompassing, noting that “if zoning is used in a discriminatory manner, there is the probability that quality may be compromised.”

Tinubu said, “Let everybody aspire, just like we aspired, your cynicism, no matter what, so you predicted during our presidential primaries that we are going to run into a chaotic storm, we put those people to shame and we came out with the best. So, expect the best from us always.”

Reps repeal 1956 colonial audit law, pass new bill

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha

The House of Representatives on Thursday repealed the 1956 Audit Law and re-enacted the Audit Act of 2014.

The colonial audit law has been in use in the country since independence in 1960 with penalties that lawmakers described as “very weak and laughable.”

The repealed law prescribed penalties as low as two shillings for offences involving the misapplication of public funds, a reason the House said the penalties did not deter offenders from committing more alarming crimes.

In passing the new audit Act, the House created the Federal Audit Service Commission and further strengthened the powers of the Auditor General to investigate and apply stiffer penalties in cases of abuse of public funds.

The House had passed the bill at a session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, after a clause-by-clause consideration of the report on the bill by the Committee of the Whole.

The new bill, “An Act for the establishment of the Office of the Auditor for the Federation, Audit Service Commission, Additional Powers and Functions of Auditor General and for Matters connected therewith,” was jointly sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. Solomon Adeola, and the Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Mr. Ali Ahmed.

The bill now awaits concurrence by the Senate before a clean copy is forwarded by the National Assembly for Presidential assent.

Speaking after the bill was passed, Adeola noted that most of the provisions in the repealed colonial law were “ridiculous.”

Adeola, who is the Senator-elect for Lagos-West in the incoming 8th Assembly, said, “The passed bill will give more powers to the Auditor General as well as establish an Audit Service Commission to take care of recruitment, training and other welfare issues of audit staff of the Auditor General’s Office.

“It also increased penalties to hundreds of thousands of naira.”

He explained that through his interactions with the Accountant General over the years as the Public Accounts Committee chairman, he realised that the office could not deliver on most of its responsibilities because of the weak powers it had in the old law.

Lagos residents groan as fuel scarcity worsens

Black market operators in Lagos ... on Thursday

Motorists and residents of Lagos, who use petrol to power their generators, have cried out about the difficulties they are encountering while struggling to get the product.

Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in different parts of the state on Thursday, reported that the number of filling stations that had the product to sell was reducing daily, while the few ones that had petrol in stock were capitalising on the scarcity to make excessive profits at the expense of consumers.

Many filling stations have stopped selling the product on the excuse that they have no stock.

It was observed that the few stations that had the product in stock had very long queues of motorists and other consumers, who had to wait for hours to buy the product, thus compounding the already chaotic traffic situation in the metropolis.

As a result of this, most of the filling stations were selling petrol for as high as N150 per litre instead of the official price of N87 per litre.

Most of the filling stations had adjusted their pumps to reflect the new prices they fixed.

The strike by petroleum tanker drivers, who are members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, has grounded product loading at fuel depots across the country, thereby worsening the already bad petrol supply situation.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the PTD had also succeeded in setting up a surveillance team to enforce its no loading directive to all members and to punish anyone caught flouting the directive.

The strike by the tanker drivers, according to market sources, is the major reason why most filling stations are without products.

Our correspondent also gathered that some depots went ahead to load products in disobedience to the PTD directive on Monday.

This, according to some marketers, informed the setting up of the surveillance team by the drivers’ union.

Two marketers, who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews, confirmed that petrol supply situation to filling stations from the depots had almost come to a halt.

One of the marketers said, “There is no improvement on the situation. Nothing is happening at the depots and nobody is saying anything to bring sanity to the mess in the system.

“The surveillance team of the PTD arm of NUPENG is going round the depots to ensure that nobody is loading.”

It was also gathered that some marketers had moved to Abuja to seek solutions to the lingering problem.

An industry source told our correspondent in confidence, “Some marketers are currently in Abuja waiting for the possibility of a meeting with key officials of the current government and the incoming government.”

When our correspondent contacted the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Olawore, on the telephone, he admitted to being in Abuja but would not disclose his mission to the seat of power.

“Nobody is talking to us about anything. It is true that I am in Abuja now, but I will soon be on my way back to Lagos,” he said.

But the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, insisted in a telephone interview with our correspondent that 1.2 billion litres of petrol had been pushed into the market from its last consignment.

He said with the current daily demand for petrol and the stock of the product with the corporation, there was enough petrol to service the country for another 20 days.

Alegbe said, “All the petrol the whole country has been consuming for a while now came from the NNPC. We have the product that can last for another 20 days pending when new consignments come in.

“I think whatever questions Nigerians have should be directed to the independent petroleum marketers and the major oil Markets; not us.”

Alegbe, who declined to make a categorical statement on the possibility of the marketers hoarding products, said it was crucial that Nigerians inquired from them the whereabouts of the product the NNPC had pumped into the system.

The instruction from the PTD to its members on Monday read, “Comrades/unit chairmen/executives you are directed to suspend all loading activities in all the depots as from Monday 18th May, 2015.

“There will be severe sanctions for any chairman/others that did not comply.”

Our correspondent had gathered that the tanker drivers were advised to take the action by the marketers, who were owed subsidy arrears of over N200bn by the Federal Government, in order to force the government to liquidate the debt.

The marketers are worried that they may lose money if the current government does not take full responsibility to liquidate the debt.

Despite the initial payment of N154bn by the Federal Government to the marketers, who in turn made a part payment to the transporters, the scarcity of petrol has persisted, grounding economic and social activities in the country.

Buhari must start by jailing thieves –Kokori

Frank Kokori

Human rights activist, Chief Frank Kokori, has advised the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to start his administration by prosecuting and jailing looters immediately after he takes oath of office on May 29.

Kokori, who is a former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, said this during an interview with our correspondent on Thursday.

The activist said by immediately prosecuting looters, Nigerians would have an idea of what the Buhari administration stands for and change would gradually set in.

He said, “You cannot change everything in four years but when Nigerians start seeing little changes in three to six months and then in one year and you see people being prosecuted and jailed for stealing public funds, and the government ensures that all the funds that were taken overseas are recovered, there is no way the needed change will not come.

“Why should Nigeria have up to $250bn in stolen funds abroad and only $35bn in our foreign reserves? The international community is aware of this and the incoming government is not foolish. Anybody that thinks he has stolen and will go scot free must be deceiving himself because if any thief goes scot free, then the All Progressives Congress-led government is not serious.

“So, the APC government must make sure that Nigerians that stole money are prosecuted and jailed while the money should be retrieved. Nobody should run a government by saying you will forget the past, no. The way Nigeria is today, people must be punished for the pains they have subjected Nigerians to.”

Kokori described the fuel scarcity across the country as unfortunate. He, however, rejected suggestions that subsidy must be removed.

He said the incoming administration must focus on building new refineries and repairing the old ones so as to stop the importation of fuel.

He said, “The question of subsidy would be looked into. It was the corruption in the subsidy that affected the sector. Once there is transparency and corruption is curbed and discipline is enforced, things will work. Why should we be importing a huge quantity of petrol?”

The former NUPENG boss, who came into limelight during the June 12, 1993 struggle, described the emergence of Buhari as a sign of good things to come.

He said the Peoples Democratic Party punished Nigerians for many years and took the citizens for granted. He said four more years of President Goodluck Jonathan would have been disastrous.

Reacting to threats by some ex-militants to return to the creeks if Buhari revoked their pipeline surveillance contracts, Kokori urged Buhari to ignore the ex-militants.

He, however, advised Buhari to ensure that the people of the South-South benefit from his government so that they would not feel marginalised.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to continue electoral reforms so that the next elections would be better that the previous ones.

Oyinlola’s lawyer loses practising licence over election case

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Kalejaye

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee has expelled a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Kalejaye, from further practising as a lawyer.

The LPDC disbarred Kalejaye after finding him guilty of professional misconduct. A five-man panel of the LPDC, led by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, conducted the investigation.

The LPDC found Kalejaye guilty of misconduct while representing the Peoples Democratic Party and its then candidate, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, where Oyinlola’s victory in the 2007 poll was being challenged by the then candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

Kalejaye was said to have engaged in a “confidential, private and confidential telephone conversation” with the Chairman of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Thomas Naron, without the knowledge of the other party.

He allegedly engaged in the unprofessional act between March and June 2008 and the Justice Naron with whom he committed the misconduct had since February 20, 2013 been compulsorily retired by the National Judicial Council.

The Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ekiti Division, Justice Paul Galinje, who read the directive (judgment of the LPDC), held that the prosecution, the Nigerian Bar Association, proved its three count complaints against Kalejaye.

The NBA was represented by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN).

He held that Kalejaiye violated the provisions of sections 1, 15, 30, 31, 34 and 55 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2007).

The panel directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to delete his name from the roll (list) of legal practitioners in the country.

The committee also directed that its decision should be served on the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chief Judges of all the states of the federation, the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Inspector General of Police and all the states’ Commissioners of Police.

It also directed that the decision be published in the media.

Kalejaiye’s lawyer, Niyi Owolade, a former Attorney General of Osun State, had objected to the LPDC’s decision.

He said his client was about filing his appeal at the Supreme Court.

Under the Legal Practitioners Act, Kalejaiye has up to 28 days to appeal the decision, failing which it will become effective.

Kalejaiye represented the PDP and Oyinlola at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which heard the petition by the ACN and its candidate in the 2007 governorship election, Aregbesola.

The LPDC rejected Kalejaiye’s defence to the effect that his telephone number was cloned.

The committee held that while Kalejaye was able to show, by expert evidence, that spoofing as a general phenomenon was possible, he failed to show that spoofing was possible on the MTN network which owned the lines with which Kalejaiye and Naron communicated.

He was said to have only demonstrated such possibility with Etisalat and Glo networks.

The committee also faulted Kalejaiye’s documentary evidence, mostly newspaper publications (including advertorial sponsored by Kalejaiye), faulting the authenticity of the call log from MTN.

The committee said it would have been more helpful had Kalejaiye applied and got his call log from MTN to prove that the one tendered by the prosecution was not the actual one.

Nigerians ask Yale to withdraw Okonjo-Iweala’s award

Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Some Nigerians have called on Yale University in the United States to withdraw the Honorary Degree it bestowed on the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala had been awarded Doctor of Humane Letters by the prestigious institution on May 15, 2015.

The institution, while presenting the award to Okonjo-Iweala, had said, “As a minister in your country, you made social and economic reforms your mission. As Nigeria’s coordinating minister of economic development and minister of finance, you have tackled corruption, created a vision and path to long-term economic stability, and worked to build a culture of transparency.”

However, a Nigerian, Sunday Iwalaiye, on Wednesday started an online petition on Change.Org, urging Nigerians to also sign the petition.

Checks by our correspondent showed that 22 hours after the petition was created, 2,500 people had signed it.

The petition stated that Okonjo-Iweala did not deserve the award, accusing her of being responsible for the harsh economic conditions the country is facing.

The petitioner wondered why Yale University would give an award to a minister under whose watch billions of dollars in oil money went missing.

Iwalaiye stated that corruption did not reduce under Okonjo-Iweala as claimed by the institution but reached unprecedented levels.

The petition read, “This citation from the Yale University does not reflect nor represent everything that has happened under the watch and the supervision of the Nigerian economy by Okonjo-Iweala as the nation’s finance minister.

“There is no tangible evidence of any economic development in Nigeria under the leadership of Okonjo-Iweala in all reality. Nigeria’s debt profile has risen rapidly under Okonjo-Iweala and Nigeria has borrowed over $2bn in the last four months alone to pay salaries of the federal and state civil servants.

“Our foreign reserves and excess crude oil accounts have both depleted heavily under Okonjo-Iweala. The recurrent expenditures in the federal budgets reached the highest levels which made capital development practically impossible in Nigeria under her.

“The true picture that Yale University missed is the fact that the economy of Nigeria has almost grounded to its final halt today which will make it a daunting task for the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari to meet its campaign promises.”

The petitioner wondered whether Yale University was rewarding Okonjo-Iweala for the $20bn oil money that went missing under her watch.

He said Yale University would be seen to be rewarding recklessness and criminality if it does not rescind the award given to the minister.

He added, “To give an honorary doctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian by a world renowned university is the biggest slap on the faces of the 180 million Nigerians in 2015. I am using this social medium to appeal to the board of regents of this prestigious university to withdraw this honorary degree that they awarded to this Nigerian immediately and without any further delay for the sake of posterity.”

Corruption: Buhari may discard AGF’s guidelines for EFCC

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke.

There are indications that the incoming Muhammadu Buhari presidency may discard the regulations drawn for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), The PUNCH has learnt.

The regulation, a subsidiary legislation derived from provisions of section 43 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, is believed to be hampering the independence of the anti-graft agency in prosecuting high profile corruption cases.

A senior lawyer, who is familiar with the incoming administration’s anti-corruption strategy, disclosed to our correspondent that the regulation drawn by Adoke would be dropped or reviewed.

According to the source, the independence of the EFCC as the Buhari government will desire in its bid to deliver on its promise to fight corruption, cannot be guaranteed under such regulation.

Section 10 of the regulation mandates the EFCC to report the outcome of its investigations on “serious or complex” cases to the AGF before commencing prosecution.

What constitutes a “serious or complex” case, according to Adoke, includes having a “significant international dimension,” involves money or assets worth N50m, or is likely to be of widespread public concern, among others.

“The incoming government will ensure that there is no interference with the investigation and prosecution by the EFCC. So, parts of Adoke’s regulation will be reviewed if not completely discarded,” the source said.

Section 43 of the EFCC Act from which Adoke derived his power to draw regulations for the anti-graft agency reads, “The Attorney General of the Federation may make rules or regulations with respect to the exercise of any of the duties, functions or powers of the commission under this Act.”

The 10-part regulations drawn by Adoke pursuant to the provisions of the EFCC Act commenced on September 20, 2010, about five months after he assumed office on April 6, 2010.

The AGF’s directives to the EFCC covers procedure for receiving complaints, investigation, arrest and granting of bail, prosecution of cases, valuation and disposal of seized assets, plea bargain, foreign aid and grants.

Section 10 of the regulation, titled ‘Report of Results of Investigation in certain cases’ reads, “(1) Where the commission conducts investigation in respect of a case or complaint which is serious or complex it shall forward to the Attorney General (of the Federation) the outcome of the investigation with its recommendations on whether there are sufficient grounds to initiate prosecution.

“(2) For the purpose of these regulations, a case is serious or complex if the case or complaint:

“(a) has a significant international dimension;

“(b) involves money or assets of a value exceeding N50m;

“(c) requires specialised knowledge of financial, commercial, fiscal or regulatory matters such as the operation of markets, banking systems, trusts, or tax regimes;

“(d) involves allegations of fraudulent activity against numerous victims;

“(e) involves substantial and significant loss of funds by a Ministry, Department or public body

“(f) is likely to be of widespread public concern; or

“(g) involves an alleged misconduct which amounts to an act of economic sabotage.”

Though section 6 of the regulation says, “Nothing shall be construed as preventing the commission from exercising any of its powers under section 7 of the Act (the EFCC Act)” but some employees of the commission said the need to get approval from the AGF and the presidency before it could prosecute had not augured well for the EFCC.

An in-house counsel with the EFCC, who also pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said the anti-corruption agency had been handicapped by the Presidency’s disposition towards high profile corruption cases.

The source said, “We have to get approval from the Presidency before we can investigate or prosecute the suspects (high profile).

“But the approval is not forthcoming. We are hoping that things will start changing when the new government is inaugurated.”

The APC spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, could not be reached for his comment as he did not respond to a text message sent to him, and only responded to our correspondent’s call through a text message on Tuesday that he could not answer calls at that moment. He did not respond to our correspondent’s several other calls afterwards.

The Director, Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Garba Shehu, when contacted referred our correspondent to the party’s manifesto.

In the party’s manifesto, section 2 titled as ‘War Against Corruption and National Orientation’ states among others that the government formed by the party would create special courts for corruption, strengthen anti-graft agencies and repeal laws capable of inhibiting their independence.

Section 2(i) of the manifesto reads, “We shall strengthen and make independent the EFCC, ICPC and other anti-graft agencies and repeal the laws which inhibit their independence.”

Spurs release Adebayor on compassionate leave

Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor has been granted compassionate leave by Tottenham Hotspur for a second time this season to return to Togo to sort out his personal issues, the Telegraph reports.

Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino has excused Adebayor from training this week and the final game of the season against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. He will not travel on the post-season tour to Malaysia and Sydney.

Adebayor has made a series of allegations against his family over Facebook in recent weeks that have prompted concerns over his mental state.

The latest of his messages accused brother Kola of holding a knife to his throat and included claims that he has often considered suicide as a result of his family problems.

Tottenham want to sell Adebayor during the summer, meaning he could have already played his last game for them, but the club’s immediate concern is the player’s well-being.

It is hoped that giving Adebayor time off to clear his head and return to his homeland will allow the 31-year-old to sort out his problems and grievances in time to return to pre-season training, either at Tottenham or with another club, in the correct frame of mind.

Rejecting claims that he had evicted his mother from his house in Africa, Adebayor claimed people were attempting to direct witchcraft, or Juju, at him.

Adebayor was then given compassionate leave by Spurs in December after a close family member was taken seriously ill.

Having taken a week off, Adebayor returned to Tottenham before Christmas but has made only five appearances since then, starting just one game.

Adebayor still has a year remaining on his Spurs contract and chairman Daniel Levy faces the prospect of having to take a financial hit on the former Arsenal man to offload him this summer.

I’ll soon return as Ondo deputy gov – Olanusi

Alhaji Ali Olanusi

The impeached Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, has expressed optimism that he will return to his former position.

Olanusi said this during an interview with our correspondent on Thursday shortly after returning from an overseas medical trip.

The former deputy governor fell out with Governor Olusegun Mimiko after he (Olanusi) defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress two days to the presidential elections.

He was subsequently impeached two weeks after the general elections by the House of Assembly which is predominantly PDP.

However, Olanusi told our correspondent that his impeachment was illegal.

He said, “The impeachment was illegal, null and void. It is an affront to the spirit and letters of the 1999 Constitution.

“Also, the oath of office administered on the new Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), was illegal, because the Attorney General has no such constitutional powers to administer oath on a governor or a deputy governor. Only the Chief Judge can do that.”

Olanusi said the people of Ondo State were not happy about the illegality.

He said the Mimiko administration had become unpopular for mismanaging the affairs of the state.

While reacting to a question on the alleged plan by Mimiko to defect to the APC, Olanusi, who has since been appointed a member of the APC Board of Trustees, said he was not aware of the planned defection.

He said, “I am not aware of any attempt by Mimiko to defect to the APC. However, if he wants to come to the APC, he must queue behind me. He also has to change his ways.”

The APC won the March 28 presidential election and did well in the National Assembly elections in Ondo State but performed badly in the April 11 House of Assembly election in the state.

When asked to explain the reason for the disparity in the two elections, Olanusi said, “The PDP rigged the April 11 election. They colluded with respected traditional rulers in several towns in the state.”

National Assembly to abandon PIB

David Mark and Aminu Tambuwal

The current National Assembly may abandon the Petroleum Industry Bill owing to the slow progress of work on it.

The PUNCH observed on Wednesday that it was becoming clear that the bill might be abandoned as senators and members of the House of Representatives have only 16 days to the end of the 7th National Assembly.

Findings showed that while the Senate is behind by not reporting the bill out of the committee stage, the House which started considering its own report last week, was being slowed down by disagreements among lawmakers over the many clauses in the proposed law.

For example, at the resumed consideration of the report by the House on Wednesday, members hotly disagreed over the funds oil majors were expected to share with the Federal Government for exploration activities in the River Basins.

Many clauses had to be deferred in the course of consideration as members also raised constitutional questions on some of the provisions.

Faced with the ensuing disputes among members, presiding Deputy Speaker   Emeka Ihedioha referred all contentious issues back to the Ad hoc Committee on PIB to be re-taken.

Ihedioha had observed that members were arguing more on issues as they affected their interests, adding, “Whatever interest you have cannot be more than the national interest that this parliament and this House in particular has.”

He later adjourned further consideration till Tuesday next week.

There were doubts on Wednesday whether the House would conclude work on the 348- clause document before the valedictory session of the House fixed for May 27.

Investigations showed that of concern was the fact that the Senate was behind and was not likely to make any serious progress on the bill before May 29.

A National Assembly official, who spoke with The PUNCH on the progress of the bill said, “The efforts of the House, though commendable, will end up as being futile.

“We all know that a bill becomes law only when passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly and is assented to by the President.

“So, even if the House does pass the bill before May 29, what purpose would it have served without the concurrence of the Senate?

“The only option is if the Senate will simply adopt the report of the House. I doubt if this is likely, considering the controversial nature of the PIB.”

Asked to comment on what would happen to the bill should the Senate fail to pass it, the Deputy House Leader,   Leo Ogor, replied that it would be on the record that the House passed it.

“We operate a bicamera legislature. We in the House are passing the PIB.’’

When contacted, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma – Egba, said deliberation on the bill was deliberately suspended by the Senate because there was no adequate time   to consider the report.

He said, “The feelers we are getting is that the incoming administration will want to study the bill and this makes sense because it is a far-reaching piece of legislation. At this point in time, it must be of interest to the incoming administration.

“The public has a misconception that the bill has been with us for four years which is not true. This bill was re-introduced to the 7th National Assembly in late 2013.

“Because it has several aspects like the fiscal (financial), technical, the legal, and the gas component, it is a very complicated bill.

“Since we needed to bring in several committees. The logistics of having more than one committee to deal with a bill is challenging. In this case we have to bring in six committees.

“Finding a common opening in terms of schedule is usually a problem and because it is very technical, we need to get the technical input of virtually every stakeholder in the sector.

“Inherently, it is not a bill that could be treated in a hurry, it is not possible. Having six committees working together on a bill is not only a big logistic problem but also, quite challenging and a big nightmare.

“For this piece of major legislation, it is important that we thread slowly, it’s going to be a major policy plan for the incoming administration, so if we are around the corner, why are we in a hurry?”

Fresh indications had emerged on Tuesday about how the non- release of the N520m appropriated for the National Assembly to work on the PIB caused its non-passage by the Senate.

Investigations by one of our correspondents revealed that the comprehensive and the executive summary of the report had been jointly produced by the six Senate committees coordinated by the Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

Findings   further showed that the report had not been presented because none of the 43 members of the six committees   had appended his   signature on it.

The development stalled its presentation on the floor of the Senate for a clause by clause consideration by members.

It was learnt that the Senate leadership made N40m available to the joint committees, whose members were expected to carry out public hearings among stakeholders across the country.

The committees were also to   hire foreign and local consultants to assist in the task.

A member of the joint committee, told The PUNCH on condition of anonymity that the amount released by the Senate leadership was grossly inadequate to carry out the assignment.

He said, “The committee involved foreign consultants who are experts in various fields in the oil and gas industry. The consultants did their work but the committee is still owing them huge sums of money at the moment.”

He alleged that, “rather than the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources releasing the N520m appropriated for the exercise, some officials diverted the money to produce billboards and posters, claiming that they were creating awareness for a bill that has not been passed.”

The committee member added,   “The situation created serious problems for the six committees made up of 43 members who were expected to carry out the necessary legislative activities.

“In fact, members of the joint committee had refused to sign the document because they did not receive adequate sitting allowances.

“The leadership of the senate are in a fix on what to do now since the House of Representatives had started deliberation on its own version of the bill.”

When contacted, the   spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources,   Kingsley Agha, said, “I’m busy and I can’t take your call.”