BEVERLY HILLS, April 26, (THEWILL) – The Senate on Thursday suspended debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which was the first order of the day following protest by members that they have not been served copies of the document.
The Chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura had taken the lead debate on the bill when the exercise was halted.
He stated that the PIB was first introduced in 2008, but that it was not passed in previous administrations of the National Assembly, adding that the objective of the bill was to create efficient institutions, and to promote transparency in the administration of petroleum resources in the country.
The lawmaker representing Ondo central was outlining the features of the bill when lawmakers murmured that they were yet to receive copies of the document.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio raised an objection to the exercise, stressing that the bill is not one to be glossed over, hence the need for members to get copies of the document before a debate on it.
Making his contribution, a lawmaker from Zamfara central, Kabir Marafa said that he noticed that essential parts of the document were separated instead of being presented as a whole.
Upon perceiving the feelings of the senate, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki suspended debate on the bill until the next legislative day, stressing that he was sure that copies of the bill had already been distributed to lawmakers last Thursday.
While expressing surprise that the document had not yet reached his colleagues, Saraki however suggested that the bill be stood down until members get the document.
Consequently, debate on the bill was stood down to the next legislative day.
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