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Senate Begins Phased PIB Debate …Denies Working Against Buhari

Published

9 years ago

November 4, 2016

Finally, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as the Senate has commenced batch-by-batch consideration and passage of the Bill with the first batch scaling through second reading.
The first batch of the bill read a second time basically spells out the governance and industrial framework for the Nigeria’s oil industry while the second batch, according to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, would deal with the host community funds and other financial components of the Bill.
The bill sponsored by Senator Donald Alasoaudura is titled, “A Bill For An Act To Provide For The Governance And Institutional Framework For The Petroleum Industry And For Other Related Matters 2016”, and is co-sponsored by 28 senators.
In his lead debate, Alasoaudura said the objective was to create an efficient and effective governing institution with clear and separate roles for the petroleum industry.
Alasoaudura said the bill seeks to establish a framework for the creation of commercially-oriented and profit-driven petroleum entities that ensures value addition and internationalization of the petroleum industry, and when passed, will ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of Nigeria’s petroleum resources; and foster a conducive business environment for petroleum industry operations.
In his contribution, Senator James Manager, noted that oil discovery in the Niger Delta has been a blessing to the world, and Nigeria in particular, but a curse to the people of the region.
He pointed out that the region tells only story of devastation and exploitation, and lamented that the golden hen that lays the golden eggs should not be taken for granted, hence the need for the 10 per cent revenue allocation for oil host communities.
Manager urged his colleagues to overlook the primordial sentiments that frustrated the passage of the bill since it was first introduced in the Sixth Senate, even as he commended the Senate leadership for the decision to split the bill into batches.
Senator Barnabas Gemade said the oil producing countries have robust, efficient and effective legislations guarding the operations within the individual countries, and hoped that the bill will redress the anomaly.
“And this has been to their advantage but Nigeria has become an exception, and we have seen the adverse effects of lack of proper legislation to guide the petroleum industry in this country.
“Every investor wants to know what is happening legally within the environment it wants to invest. It wants to know the dos and don’ts, it wants to know the opportunities because you can calculate the opportunities, you can’t calculate the risks if you don’t know what is happening legally within a given system, like what is obtainable in our petroleum industry as we speak”, he said.
Provisions of the bill include that NNPC be split into two companies; the Nigeria Petroleum Assets Management Company (NPAM) and a National Oil Company (NOC).
According to the bill, NOC will be an “integrated oil and gas company operating as a fully commercial entity”, and will run like a private company.
The company will as well keep its revenues, deduct costs directly and pay dividends to the government, thereby putting an end to the era of waiting for federal allocation for funding and always failing to meet cash call obligations.
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, had announced the immediate need for the consideration of the batch providing for the host community funding.
His words, “Before we proceed into the finalization of this part of the bill, the committee must come with a bill regarding the issue of the host communities for discussion. And I think that that can be done within the next four weeks before we come back for clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
“We must bring the bill here on community issues and frontiers so that we can also pass it into second reading and commit it to the committee. I think it would be fair to create an understanding that the purpose of this bill is to send the message that truly, as a Senate, we are committed to ensuring that we create that enabling environment for this sector”.
The bill was later referred to Senate Committees on Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream) and that of Gas for more legislative inputs within the next four weeks.
Meanwhile, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has debunked reports in some quarters that it may have been working against the interest of the Presidency.
Leader of the Senate, Aliyu Ndume, made this remark on behalf of the Senate yesterday while reacting to a newspaper publication.
In the said publication, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Barr Udo Udoma, was quoted as saying the Senate should be held responsible for the failure to meet October target for the consideration of 2017 budget.
Citing Order 42, 52 and 15 of the Senate standing rules, the leader said the minister has been invited to appear before him to throw more light on the document he submitted relating to the 2017 budget but he failed to appear.
“In this Senate, we have the opposition that is cooperating with us. We are also the majority who make the government, so we are not working against the government”, the Senate leader added.
On his part, the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East, Albert Bassey, said he had personally confronted the minister, who is his own “brother” and that he denied making such remarks, adding that he was quoted out of context by the media.
In his ruling, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki also confirmed that he got across to the minister as soon as he saw the said publication and he (minister) did promise to retract the statement through subsequent publications.
He, however, cautioned both the executive and the legislature not to go into blame game but work towards nation building.
Saraki, therefore, assured the Presidency that the Senate would commence considerations of the budget as soon as the document required is provided by the minister.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

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PANDEF Hails Tinubu For Lifting Emergency Rule In Rivers

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2025

The Tide

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has hailed the lifting of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

In a statement signed by Board members and National Executive Committee members, yesterday, PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu for rectifying what they described as an anomaly.

The statement was co-signed by Co-Chairmen, PANDEF Board of Trustees, Alfred Diette-Spiff and Obong Victor Attah, National Chairman Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, and National Secretary, Beks Dagogo-Jack.

Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State on the 18th of March, 2025, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months in the first instance.

In place of the governor, the President appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as Sole Administrator.

However, Tinubu announced the suspension of the Emergency Rule on Wednesday, stating, “It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State shall end with effect from midnight today (Wednesday).”

The Forum commended Fubara’s unwavering perseverance and “faith in the divine will of Almighty God,” while also commending the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, the Speaker, and members of the House of Assembly, who were equally affected by the suspension.

“The Board and National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, the apex socio-political organisation representing the South-South geopolitical zone, joins millions of Nigerians in welcoming the lifting of the state of emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

“While PANDEF had expressed strong reservations regarding the erstwhile emergency rule, we commend His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for taking this bold step to rectify the anomaly.

“We welcome Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to his elected office and salute his unwavering perseverance and faith in the divine will of Almighty God. We extend similar commendations to the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Oduah, the Speaker, and members of the House of Assembly, who were equally affected by the suspension,” the statement read.

Addressing Rivers people, the forum declared, “Light has returned to the state and a new glorious dawn has come. A moment in which the bitter pains of the past months will inspire all to rededicate themselves to true mutual forbearance, new alignments and forward movement.”

They urged political leaders and citizens to put the past behind them and work towards the collective good of the State, while pledging to support Rivers’ developmental trajectory under Fubara.

“All hearts and hands must therefore be joined together to put the past behind us and work towards the collective good of the state.

“We look forward to the State’s return to normalcy and the resumption of its developmental trajectory under the leadership of Governor Fubara and his team. PANDEF reiterates its commitment to supporting the government and people of Rivers State in their pursuit of progress and development,” the statement added.

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RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans

Published

3 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eteh Ibas (Rtd), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex to enhance efficiency and productivity in the civil service.

Ibas made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,.

He disclosed that “initiative is designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who form the backbone of the state’s governance.”

The Administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants in the State.

Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.

He stated that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.

“These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways,” the Administrator stated.

“We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” he added.

The Administrator urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.

He emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.

The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.“

“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” Dr. Brown remarked, lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.

She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.

Speaking on behalf of the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor,

expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.

“For once, since the creation of the State, we are being honoured,” Njowhor said, adding, “Our morale has been lifted.”

He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programmes, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.

The rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and the new housing scheme represent a major investment in the infrastructure and dignity of public service in Rivers State, signaling a new era of support for the civil servants who drive the government’s policies and programmes.

The Tide reports that the Administrator also conferred awards of meritorious service on retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State

Featured

Rivers LG Poll: APC Wins 20 chairmanship seats, PDP Clears Three

Published

1 month ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.

According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.

APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.

The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.

Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.

Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.

Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.

Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.

The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.

Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas

Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.

National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.

John Bibor & King Onunwor