Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason has stated that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, PIGB is the most politicised bill in the National Assembly.
PIGB was passed by the 8th National Assembly but President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the bill citing anomalies, particularly the reduction of Powers of the Minister of Petroleum over Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Akpatason, however told journalists in Abuja that the bill which dates back to the 7th Assembly (2011- 2015) has been hampered by vested interests among stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.
According to the House Deputy Leader, the only way the PIGB can scale through without much delay is for the executive and the legislative arms of government to come together and get some experts work out the best draft.
“PIGB has been the most politicised bill in this Assembly, all the way from the 7th Assembly. PIGB has been the most politicised project, all the way from the Executive and even right here in the National Assembly because of a lot of contending interests all over the place.
“The multinationals formed its block and interest. In politics we have all our various interests all through. The refining block is another, the marketers is another factor, transporters are another big factor.
“A lot of people are benefiting from a dysfunctional oil sector and these people are very powerful and highly influenced people. People that can manipulate anything possible in this country. That is why you see that even the draft that comes to the National Assembly, you see elements of political twisting and if you try to correct at the level of Committees these interests will come to play.
James Kwen, Abuja
