Finally, senate receives PIB report, to consider it on Thursday

The senate has received a report on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The report was laid before the senate on Tuesday after Sabo Mohammed, chairman of the joint committee on petroleum (upstream and downstream) and gas resources, moved a motion.

After Mohammed laid the report, Senate President Ahmad Lawan asked that every senator be provided with a copy of the document today ahead of its consideration on Thursday.

The PIB has been in the works since 2008 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Successive sessions of the national assembly have failed to pass the legislation owing to the complexities of the oil industry and divergent interests.

But the current assembly under Lawan said it is committed to passing the bill.

Speaking earlier in the month, the senate president said both chambers of the national assembly are putting finishing touches to the bill.

“As I speak, our joint committee of both senate and the house on the PIB are about to conclude writing the report which will be submitted to both chambers of the national assembly,” Lawan had said.

“Our expectation is that we will pass the PIB within this month of June by the grace of God.”