ALLAFRICA
DAILY TRUST [21/11/12]
By Mohammed Shosanya
Lagos — The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) says the Petroleum Industry Bill currently before the National Assembly is meant to favour the bourgeoisie in the country.
The Lagos chairman of the association, Reverend Folorunso Oginni, who said this in an interview with our correspondent yesterday, said the bill's focus is on how to privatize or sell government assets which will not add value to the lives of Nigerians.
He pointed out that the bill was silent on the nation's refineries, how to effectively run them for optimal delivery, as well as arrogated more powers to the Minister and the Ministry of Petrleum Resources.
He also said due to several ambiguities contained in the bill, it will not be in the interest of Nigerians if it eventually becomes law.
"If the Petroleum Industry Bill is passed into law by the National Assembly, it will send the country back by another 30 years. This is not good for the oil and gas industry and the economy as a whole," he said.
Oginni, who said the unions in the petroleum industry were not consulted during the crafting of the bill, disclosed that they have finalized plans to infuse their amendment into the bill in order to reflect the input of oil workers therein.
He also spoke on the controversial Ribadu report which he said confirms government's insincere when it comes to the issue of subsidy and deregulation.
He cautioned the federal government not to jettison the report due to disagreement among the members of the committee.
According to him, the government should look at areas of the report which is beneficial to Nigerians and adopt it.
"The government should look into the report despite the fact that there are controversies. It is wrong to throw away the baby with the bath water. Government should expunge the contentious aspect of the report and adopt the ones that will be beneficial to Nigeria and Nigerians."
Besides, Oginni advocated the need for the country to stop importation of petroleum into the country, stressing that it is the best way to right the wrongs in the petroleum sector rather than constituting committees.
He said: "The only way forward is to stop importation. If we continue to import refined petroleum products into the country,there is no way corruption will stop in the oil sector.
The Lagos chairman of the association, Reverend Folorunso Oginni, who said this in an interview with our correspondent yesterday, said the bill's focus is on how to privatize or sell government assets which will not add value to the lives of Nigerians.
He pointed out that the bill was silent on the nation's refineries, how to effectively run them for optimal delivery, as well as arrogated more powers to the Minister and the Ministry of Petrleum Resources.
He also said due to several ambiguities contained in the bill, it will not be in the interest of Nigerians if it eventually becomes law.
"If the Petroleum Industry Bill is passed into law by the National Assembly, it will send the country back by another 30 years. This is not good for the oil and gas industry and the economy as a whole," he said.
Oginni, who said the unions in the petroleum industry were not consulted during the crafting of the bill, disclosed that they have finalized plans to infuse their amendment into the bill in order to reflect the input of oil workers therein.
He also spoke on the controversial Ribadu report which he said confirms government's insincere when it comes to the issue of subsidy and deregulation.
He cautioned the federal government not to jettison the report due to disagreement among the members of the committee.
According to him, the government should look at areas of the report which is beneficial to Nigerians and adopt it.
"The government should look into the report despite the fact that there are controversies. It is wrong to throw away the baby with the bath water. Government should expunge the contentious aspect of the report and adopt the ones that will be beneficial to Nigeria and Nigerians."
Besides, Oginni advocated the need for the country to stop importation of petroleum into the country, stressing that it is the best way to right the wrongs in the petroleum sector rather than constituting committees.
He said: "The only way forward is to stop importation. If we continue to import refined petroleum products into the country,there is no way corruption will stop in the oil sector.
"Do we really have reason to be importing refined products into this country when we have the wherewithal, crude oil and manpower?," he asked.
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