Senate to ensure passage of PIB, review of electoral act – Lawan

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Monday disclosed that the senate would ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) into law  before the end of the year.

Lawan made this known at a news conference in Abuja.

Buhari positioned to build stronger economy – Report

Lawan, who said senate on resumption from its six weeks’ recess from Jan 28, would also consider the review on the electoral act.

He said that although the Jan. 28 resumption date would be a sober moment for both chambers, given the demise of a member of the House of Representatives from Jigawa state.

He, however, said what the senate had in mind for Nigerians on resumption was important.

On PIB, lawan said: “The PIB that has defiled passage, we want to break that jinx, whatever the mystery, we are determined to ensure that we pass the PIB, before the end of 2020 by the grace of God.

“The PIB is so important, because until you are able to pass that bill, you cannot attract investments into the oil and gas industry.

“In the last 10 years there has not been any investments in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, that is so important because we have lost so much.”

He said that the eventual passage of the bill would result in an enormous benefits and catapult the economy of Nigeria to the level that Nigerians desired.

On electoral act review, Lawan said that the senate was not oblivious that there was need to amend the electoral act.

“We have had the 2019 elections and we had also had re-run elections or bye-elections and recently on Saturday in 11 states, there was 28 elections.

“So, there must be lessons from those elections, so we should be looking at where there are challenges and what we need to do to provide legislative intervention, so that we have better election processes going forward.”

According to Lawan, amendment of the electoral act was going to occupy the minds of legislators.

On hike in Value Added Tax (VAT), Lawan said : “The 2. 5 per cent increment in VAT does not include items that ordinary Nigerians normally use.

“Many of the items that would now have additional 2.5 per cent are luxury items that ordinary Nigerians use.

” At this point, we need resources to provide basic social amenities that an average Nigerians need.”

On setting up the constitution review committee, he disclosed that the committee would soon be constituted.

“The committee will be constituted very soon, either this week or next week by the grace of God because the time is ripe for us to re-constitute the committee so that the members could start to work immediately.

” We have referred some bills to the them already. Traditionally, everybody knows that since 1999, when the constitution review committees were formed in the National Assembly.

” In the senate, the Deputy President of the Senate usually head the committee, while the Deputy Speaker is usually the Chairman of the committee in the House of Representatives.

“We are going to maintain the tradition in the 9th Senate.

“We have a Deputy Senate President, who is vast, erudite lawyer who played a significant role in the 8th Assembly as a member of the committee on INEC and constitution review.

” So, we are good to go by the grace of God.

Lawan thanked the media for its role via engagement and constructive criticism of activities of the National Assembly.

He urged the media to remain focus in the discharge of its responsibility as fourth estate of the realm. (NAN)