Nigeria: 'We Don't Need To Be Bribed Before We Pass PIB' - Deputy House Leader
Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, directed the ad hoc committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) ...
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Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, directed the ad hoc committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to submit its report within 21 days, reports revealed.
He also directed the clerk of the House to activate the electronic voting system without further delay.
The 23-member ad hoc committee headed by Ishaka Bawa was inaugurated with a view to fine-tuning the PIB which scaled through second reading.
The House also conducted a regional public hearing as part of efforts to take input of Nigerians on the proposed bill.
While reacting to question on the alleged bribe demanded by the House before passage of the bill, Leo Ogor, deputy House leader, said, “I am giving you my assurance vis-à-vis that of the speaker that the PIB will be passed.
"Touch has been put into that bill and I want to also state that I’m not aware that anybody is asking anybody for a dime. You don’t need anybody to give you a dime to do your job.
“Our oath of allegiance is to the constitution of Nigeria, vis-à-vis the fact that we are lawmakers. So if somebody is going to ask for money before doing his own job, then that is an aberration. I doubt it sincerely. I hope it’s not some kind of cheap blackmail.
“But I know very soon that the bill will be passed and it is one bill that will do the oil sector a great deal of advantage. I can’t believe that somebody will have a situation whereby you ask for money to deprive the nation to have such a wonderful Act, which at the end of the day will open up our economy and which at the end of the day will have multiplier effects in the whole of the economy.
“So, we are quite worried and ashamed that Nigeria as a leading oil producing country is into importation of petroleum products. It is very embarrassing and if such a bill will put a stop to that, create wonderful job opportunities, why will a lawmaker ask for a dime from anybody? Except some sort of blackmail is emerging from some corners,” Ogor submitted.
Source: Business Day
He also directed the clerk of the House to activate the electronic voting system without further delay.
The 23-member ad hoc committee headed by Ishaka Bawa was inaugurated with a view to fine-tuning the PIB which scaled through second reading.
The House also conducted a regional public hearing as part of efforts to take input of Nigerians on the proposed bill.
While reacting to question on the alleged bribe demanded by the House before passage of the bill, Leo Ogor, deputy House leader, said, “I am giving you my assurance vis-à-vis that of the speaker that the PIB will be passed.
"Touch has been put into that bill and I want to also state that I’m not aware that anybody is asking anybody for a dime. You don’t need anybody to give you a dime to do your job.
“Our oath of allegiance is to the constitution of Nigeria, vis-à-vis the fact that we are lawmakers. So if somebody is going to ask for money before doing his own job, then that is an aberration. I doubt it sincerely. I hope it’s not some kind of cheap blackmail.
“But I know very soon that the bill will be passed and it is one bill that will do the oil sector a great deal of advantage. I can’t believe that somebody will have a situation whereby you ask for money to deprive the nation to have such a wonderful Act, which at the end of the day will open up our economy and which at the end of the day will have multiplier effects in the whole of the economy.
“So, we are quite worried and ashamed that Nigeria as a leading oil producing country is into importation of petroleum products. It is very embarrassing and if such a bill will put a stop to that, create wonderful job opportunities, why will a lawmaker ask for a dime from anybody? Except some sort of blackmail is emerging from some corners,” Ogor submitted.
Source: Business Day
