TheCable

Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the national assembly will pass the petroleum industry bill (PIB) in April.

He disclosed this on Thursday during a ministerial briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

There have been failed attempts by the previous national assembly to pass the legislation for the country’s oil sector.

During the seventh assembly, the lower legislative chamber passed the bill, but the Senate failed to concur.

The eight assembly, subsequently, broke the PIB into five components and passed the petroleum industry governance bill (PIGB) but President Muhammadu Buhari failed to sign the bill, citing some constitutional reasons.

Sylva said the national assembly will pass the bill in April, adding that efforts are being made to meet the target.

“The national assembly has expressed the intent to pass the PIB into law by April 2021. Every effort is being made to support the national assembly to meet this target,” he said.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, had said the bill will be passed by April or May.

Lawan noted that some forces within the country and outside are working to frustrate the passage of the bill.

He said it is going to take strength and patriotism to pass the bill.

But the minister expressed optimism that the PIB will be passed in April, adding that both chambers of the national assembly are committed to making it work.