Budget Defence: Senate Adjourns Plenary To Oct 29

The Senate, yesterday, adjourned plenary for two weeks to engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in defence of their 2020 budget.
The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, announced the adjournment during Tuesday’s plenary.
Lawan said that the adjournment was to engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the purpose of budget defence of the Appropriation Bill 2020.
The President of the Senate had on October 8, urged MDAs to appear before committees of the Senate in October to defend their 2020 budget.
According to Lawan, the exercise is supposed to last for two weeks.
“And like we said before, for the sake of emphasis, all MDAs should take this opportunity to come forward to the various committees in the National Assembly to defend their budget within the two weeks.
“This is the only window available. And for our committees, we wish you the best of the outing.
“We will be coming to the National Assembly those of us who are not members of the committees to give the moral support that is required,” he said.
However, the Senate, in a bid to shore up Nigeria’s revenue earning, yesterday, passed the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act 2004 (amendment) Bill 2019.
This was just as the upper chamber received a formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking the amendment of the Act.
The bill was passed by the upper chamber after consideration of the report of the Joint committees on Petroleum (Upstream), Gas and Finance.
With the passage of the bill, it is estimated that Nigeria stands to benefit about N400billion being revenue due to the Federal Government from International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country.
The Senate, during the clause-by-clause consideration of the committee’s report, however amended clause 17 of the Act, which recommended 10 years for a future review of the law.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, during consideration of the report, demanded explanation from the Joint committee as to why the timeline for review of Production Sharing Contracts was amended from five years to 10 years.
In his response, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan, explained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and International Oil Companies (IOCs) bemoaned the five-year period which they said was insufficient to take certain final investment decisions.
“It takes about five years for an investor to take a Final Investment Decision oil investment (FID). So, the NNPC and others are saying for you to review the law, you must give them a stable law; something they can project on”, Akpan said.
Some lawmakers, including Senators Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) and Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North), who were not swayed by Akpan’s explanation, insisted on the retention of the existing five-year periodic timeline provided in the Act.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun Central), however, prevailed on his colleagues, and moved a motion for an amendment of clause 17 to specify eight years as the timeline for the review of the Production Sharing Contracts.
The motion was seconded by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South) and thereafter adopted by the upper chamber when put to a voice vote by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate said the National Assembly made history with the passage of the Bill for an amendment of Production Sharing Contracts Act.
While, commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment towards ensuring the amendment of the Act, he stressed that Nigeria stands to benefit N1.5billion as a result of the amendment.
He said: “We have done what could not be done since 2003 to date. Today marks a milestone in the history of the Senate, and particularly the National Assembly.
“With the passage of this bill, Nigeria will gain at least $1.5billion in 2020 as a result of this amendment. The Senate will do more.
“I must commend President Buhari, who mentioned the need to amend this bill in his speech when he presented the 2020 budget to the National Assembly last week, and of course, we also received an executive communication from him.”
Lawan emphasised the amendment of the Production Sharing Contract Act will create a level playing ground for the government and International Oil Companies doing business in Nigeria.
“For the IOCs doing business in Nigeria, the amendment will not in any way discourage investment. We expect that they will continue to do business in Nigeria”.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja