After Stormy Session, House Steps Down PIB

*Senate adopts committee’s report, retains 3% for host communities

Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives was yesterday forced to step down the long-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) over the reduction in the five per cent recommended for host communities earlier passed by the House following protests from some southern lawmakers.

But the Senate yesterday passed the conference committee report of the Senate and House of Representatives on the PIB and retained the three per cent for host communities.

However, the report from the conference Committee, which harmonised the two versions earlier passed was laid and considered at the plenary yesterday by the House.

Even before the commencement of the plenary, the lawmakers were engaged in a shouting match with some southern lawmakers shouting that they should be given five per cent after news filtered in that the conference committee recommended three per cent as against the five per cent passed by the House.

It was during this row that the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila made his way into the Chamber, but his presence did nothing to stop the rowdy session.

When it appears it would be difficult to achieve decorum, the Speaker directed that the House should go into an emergency Executive session which started at 12:25 pm and ended 1:20 p.m.

After the Executive session ended, Gbajabiamila called on the Chairman of the Conference Committee from the House and Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Mongunu to lay the report, but the lawmaker later sought the permission of the House to step down the laying of the report.

While journalists were not informed of what transpired at the Executive session, the stepping down of the clause-by-clause consideration of PIB was an indication that they were not able to reach a compromise on the percentage for the host communities.

However, Gbajabiamila has assured that the PIB will shortly be transmitted to the President after proper harmonisation with the Senate.

The Speaker disclosed this while delivering his speech to mark the end of the legislative year.
He said after multiple failed attempts over two decades, the PIB has passed both Chambers of the National Assembly and would be transmitted shortly to the President after proper harmonisation with the Senators
Gbajabiamila stated: “Through it all, the 9th House of Representatives has carried on its constitutional duty to make laws for the good government of the country.

The Speaker noted that it had been mentioned to him that landmark legislation such as the PIB and the Electoral Act amendment Bill ought to have been considered using the electronic voting system in the House.

Gbajabiamila said while he agreed with this suggestion, e-voting usually in most parts of the world is meant for single item pieces of legislation, and not 400 clause considerations, except on reports that contain a limited number of clauses, adding that as such, it is not ideal for PIB.

He noted that as the House considers the Electoral Act amendment Bill as part of continued efforts to improve the country’s elections and ensure that democracy thrives, he urged members to vote their conscience.

Gbajabiamila said, “The stage is set and the world is watching. I encourage all members to vote their conscience informed only by the best interest of the country and our people.”

Senate Adopts Committee’s Report, Retains 3% for Host Communities

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday passed the conference committee report of the Senate and House of Representatives on the PIB.

The passage was sequel to the approval of the recommendations contained in its conference committee report on a Bill for and Act to Provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiscal Framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, the Development of Host Communities and for Related Matters, 2021.

The upper chamber adopted three per cent as contribution to the Host Communities Development Fund recommended by the conference committee.
While the Senate last week passed three per cent for host communities in the PIB, the House of Representatives jerked the figure up to five per cent in its version.

Some PDP Senators from the South-South such as Seriake Dickson and George Thompson Sekibo, protested the retention of three per cent for host communities in the conference committee report.

According to them, their decision to speak against the recommendation of the conference committee was to register their support in a way that promotes nothing but the interest of the region.

Sekibo while coming under Senate Order 43, intimated the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and other Senators of his decision to abstain from voting, as doing so he said, “will put my neck on the line.”

The conference committee report was, thereafter, passed after its consideration by the upper chamber.