The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of 60 civil society organisations on Monday, urged the 8th National Assembly to within 12 months pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
The Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and leader of the group, Mr Clement Nwankwo made the call during a courtesy call on the Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The group said other critical outstanding Bills left untreated by 7th Assembly should be rejuvenated and passed into laws.
Nwankwo said the ongoing Constitution Amendment Bill, Electoral Act and other outstanding bills must be made priority legislations which should receive accelerated hearing and passage.
On his part, the Speaker thanked the members of the group for their contributions to successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
Dogara said the House on resumption from its current two-week break would commission the group to conduct needs assessment in order to strengthen the capacity of the group.
According to him, such development would also include to determine priority areas that would enhance monitoring and assessment of proceedings in the lower chamber.
Dogara said “We want this needs assessment to be conducted on the legislature and we want the civil societies in this country to do that.”
“The National Assembly membership will be excluded from the exercise because once we are involved, they will say the exercise has been tainted with bias.”
“On the issue of pending Bills, we recently amended the rules of the House to provide for a situation whereby those outstanding Bills will remain pending.”
“As soon as we start legislative business, we are going to prepare a compendium of all those Bills that we consider critical as quickly as possible for onward transmission to the President for assent,’’ he said.
NAN
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