Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, has called on all agencies of government to support and cooperate with the legislature in the task of its oversight function, to achieve economic growth, transparency and accountability.
.The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas made this known on Thursday during the the public hearing to deliberate on two important Bills on non-oil and gas, and oil and gas sector in the country.
Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by the Deputy Minority Whip, Hon Ozodinobi George, stated that the two Bills 1). A Bill for an Act to Enact the Nigerian Content (Non-Oil and Gas Sector) Development (Establishment) Bill to establish the Nigerian Content Council and to Provide for Programme Structure for the use of Nigerian Expertise, Made- in- Nigeria Goods and Services, Economic Diversification; and for Related Matters (HB. 59)”
And a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act No. 2, 2010 and to Enact the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act to establish the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and to Provide for Legal Framework, Structures and Programmes for the Strengthening of the Nigerian Content in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry and for Related Matters (HB. 1039) is important and will promote development.
The member representing Sagbama / Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Rt Hon. Fred Agbedi, Ph.D, Chairman House Committee on FCT Area Councils and Acilianary Matters, who double as the leader of the South-South caucus, joined other members of the House of Representatives on a Public Hearing.
Rt Hon. Fred Agbedi, who is also a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board pointed out those grey areas of the Bill that needed amendment, and urged government agencies to always collaborate with the legislature in carrying out their oversight functions.
The House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board is scheduled to deliberate on important Bills on non oil and gas, and oil and gas sector in the country.
The Committee is expected to do a thorough job on the Bills and come up with workable and acceptable recommendations which would serve the purpose of the essence of this Bill, for the benefit of the country, he said.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Boma Goodhead, said this is one among the two very significant Bills that hold the key to our nation’s progress.
These Bills are undoubtedly extremely critical to the development and strengthening of the Nigerian Content in both the Oil and gas and Non-Oil and Gas Sectors, especially in the growth of Nigerian industries, creation of massive employment opportunities for Nigerians, and export of surplus Made–in–Nigeria products to earn foreign income and further strengthen the national currency, – Boma Goodhead.
Some recommendations made at the public hearing includes; The Act has been implemented for thirteen years but an objective examination of its provisions will show that there are very fundamental defects in the Act such that some critical provisions of the Act are so vaguely worded with wide discretionary administrative powers, especially on waivers, which has the propensity to aid abuse of power.
” Another fundamental defect in the extant Act is that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 is bereft of any provision for strong oversight, thereby giving free hand to whoever cares.”