Senate Passes PIB Bill, Pegs Host Community Fund At 3%

*As Reps Kick Against 3% Host Community Fund, 30% Frontier
Basins

The Senate on Thursday passed the harmonised Petroleum Industry
Bill which was produced by a conference committee of both chambers
of the National Assembly last week.

The harmonised version of the PIB was submitted for
consideration by the federal lawmakers on Thursday at plenary.

Prior to the approval of the proposed legislation through voice
votes, senators from the South-South geopolitical zone protested
against the proposed three per cent equity share for the oil host
communities.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, however, prevailed on
Senator Seriake Dickson to back down on his threat to lead his
colleagues to stage a walkout.

Meanwhile, Some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives staged protests on the
floor over the proposed three per cent host community fund and 30
per cent frontier basins development in the Petroleum Industry Bill
(PIB) while awaiting the commencement of Thursday’s plenary.

Some of the lawmakers who demanded the adoption of five per cent
for the host community fund at plenary included Honourables
Chinyere Igwe and Boma Goodhead.

Igwe, on entering into the chamber, shouted “It’s a fraud, it’s
a fraud, we will never accept that.”

He was also joined by other PDP members who also chanted ‘It’s a
fraud it’s a fraud’.

After the opening prayer, the Majority Leader, Honourable
Alhassan Ado Doguwa, moved a motion for the House to revert to
executive session in the bid to douse the tension.

Most of the lawmakers who were presented were seen with copies
of the Electoral Act (amendment) bill to be considered before the
House adjourned for two month recess.

*As Reps Kick Against 3% Host Community Fund, 30% Frontier
Basins

The Senate on Thursday passed the harmonised Petroleum Industry
Bill which was produced by a conference committee of both chambers
of the National Assembly last week.

The harmonised version of the PIB was submitted for
consideration by the federal lawmakers on Thursday at plenary.

Prior to the approval of the proposed legislation through voice
votes, senators from the South-South geopolitical zone protested
against the proposed three per cent equity share for the oil host
communities.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, however, prevailed on
Senator Seriake Dickson to back down on his threat to lead his
colleagues to stage a walkout.

Meanwhile, Some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives staged protests on the
floor over the proposed three per cent host community fund and 30
per cent frontier basins development in the Petroleum Industry Bill
(PIB) while awaiting the commencement of Thursday’s plenary.

Some of the lawmakers who demanded the adoption of five per cent
for the host community fund at plenary included Honourables
Chinyere Igwe and Boma Goodhead.

Igwe, on entering into the chamber, shouted “It’s a fraud, it’s
a fraud, we will never accept that.”

He was also joined by other PDP members who also chanted ‘It’s a
fraud it’s a fraud’.

After the opening prayer, the Majority Leader, Honourable
Alhassan Ado Doguwa, moved a motion for the House to revert to
executive session in the bid to douse the tension.

Most of the lawmakers who were presented were seen with copies
of the Electoral Act (amendment) bill to be considered before the
House adjourned for two month recess.