The Federal Government has given the special Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) task force 30 working days to produce a new draft bill for presentation to the National Assembly.
The charge was given by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the formal inauguration of a 7-man task force yesterday in Abuja.
Members of the special PIB task team under the chairmanship of Senator Udoma Udo Udoma? include Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Lawan Shuaibu, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, and Hon. Habeeb Fashino. Others are Mr. Peter Esele, President of TUC, while the Legal Adviser of the Petroleum Ministry, Ibrahim Dikko, will act as secretary.
The committee’s terms of reference include reviewing all sections of the PIB and harmonising the existing different versions to produce a draft copy in 30 working days.
It is also to work with a technical committee, members of whom are drawn from the ministry and industry experts, to produce a new copy of the bill to be presented to the National Assembly and to further work with the technical committee to ensure quick passage of the bill.
The minister stated that despite the delay faced with the 6th National Assembly over non passage of the Bill, Nigerians should believe in the 7th National Assembly for the quick passage of the Bill.??
Reacting to calls for her to step down, Madueke said: We live in a democratic country; everyone has the opportunity to speak their mind. Without criticism we cannot grow, all public officers are open to criticism.”
On fuel queues, she explained that when strikes like the recent one encountered in the country happens, it usually takes time for things to return to normalcy. She however assured that the ministry was working hard to ensure that product supplies were returned to normal.
Udoma who responded on behalf of other members of the team said it was an important national assignment to which all effort would be put in to facilitate the passage of the bill into law for the betterment of the nation.