N’Assembly Plans Joint Probe Of Economic Sabotage In Petroleum Sector

The Senate and the House of Representatives, have resolved to carry out a joint investigation into alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum sector.

Earlier the two Chambers of the National Assembly had set up separate Ad-hoc Committees, to execute the probe independently, but now resolved to jointly undertake the task.

The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee set up for the investigation, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday, in a statement he personally signed.

He said: As we return fully to the parliamentary sessions on Tuesday this week, the National Assembly will, without ambiguity, revisit its decision to decisively address challenges in the petroleum industry.

“The industry is not optimal in its performance. This may not be unconnected to crude oil theft, endless turnaround maintenance of public refineries, importation of substandard petroleum products and disruption of fuel supply, among others.

“Contrary to some media reports, the Senate never suspended its Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, but postponed its public hearing due to the need to address issues that border on the Rules of the National Assembly.

“Today, both chambers of the National Assembly will resolve the issues and possibly constitute a joint committee that will continue with the investigation from where the ad-hoc committee stopped.

“We are committed to unearthing the roots of economic sabotage in the petroleum industry in the national interest and developing institutional mechanisms that will make the industry more efficient and functional.”

He added that both Chambers are expecting new Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper ( FSP), from the Executive which are integral parts of yearly budget preparation, consideration and approval.

“The consideration of MTEF occupies a prime place on the rung of our legislative agenda. This is simply because MTEF must be ready before the 2025 Appropriation Bill can be laid before the National Assembly.

“We are equally preoccupied with the review of the 1999 Constitution. In the Senate, the Constitution Review Committee is chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin.

“In the coming weeks, the Committee will hold retreats and strategy sessions; call for memoranda and organise zonal meetings on some sections of our constitution that should be amended.

“Given the pedigrees of all its members, this exercise no doubt promises a truly federative approach that will redefine and reinvent public governance in this country’, he added.