The Senate will on October 20 debate the Petroleum Industry Bill forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly last week.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Basiru Ajibola, confirmed this to newsmen on Thursday after the 2021 Appropriation Bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said, “From Tuesday October 13, Wednesday and Thursday, the Senators will take their turns to discuss the principles of the Budget before it will be sent to the relevant committees.
“A Journalist sent a request that the Senate said it is suspending work on the PIB till next year because of the Budget. This is not true.
“The Senate is also committed to expeditious passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) because it is central to getting the realization of the revenue and putting our oil in competitive international market.
“On October 20, the Petroleum Industry Bill will enter second reading after which it will be sent to the relevant committees — Petroleum upstream, downstream and gas, so as work is being done on 2021 Appropriation, work will be done at the same time on Petroleum Industry Bill.
“Just as it is in the legislative agenda, we are committed to ensuring the expeditious scrutinizing of the content of the bill and passing the appropriation act after we finish work on it so we are able to retain the January-December budget cycle. We also hope to conclude work on the PIB before the end of the year.”
