Civil society organizations working in the area of transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector including Centre for Democracy and Development , African Network for Environment & Economic Justice, Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Spaces for Change, Publish What You Pay, Environmental Rights Action, Social Action , Protest to Power Movement and the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development have
mobilized to occupy the National Assembly over the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.
The occupation which will be heralded by a rally across the major streets of Abuja February 25 has become necessary following the politicization of the bill by the members of the National Assembly,the CSOs said.
A statement by Mr. Monday Osasah, on behalf of the group said opacity and other challenges in the Oil and Gas sector made the Federal Government of Nigeria to initiate a reform process as far back as 2000 which culminated into the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that was transmitted to the National Assembly for passage into law. Regrettably, the bill up till now has not been passed into law in spite of the great hope it holds for Nigerians.
It further said that the passage of the PIB with amendments that will promote greater transparency and accountability in the sector is very important.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee (Upstream), admitted that the industry has already lost in excess of $28 billion in investments. As a result, Nigerians cannot afford the end of the seventh National Assembly without the passage of the PIB.
The group enjoins all Nigerians to come our en masse and be part of the final push for the passage of the PIB.
