PENGASSAN Begs President Buhari To Sign Energy Commission Amendment Bill

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has appealed to the President, Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, assent to the Energy Commission of Nigeria Amendment Bill, 2022, before handing over to the incoming administration on May 29, 2023.

PENGASSAN made the appeal in a statement jointly signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa on Friday.

The association said the appeal was sequel to the negligence of the bill which was transmitted to the office of the President since November 28, 2022.

The oil union reminded President Buhari of the critical role of the Energy Commission of Nigeria in nation building, saying “the commission was expected to meet up with the energy demands of the country in critical areas, especially by sustaining energy development nationwide.”

PENGASSAN blamed the inability of the Energy Commission of Nigeria to perform its mandated duties on bureaucratic breakdowns with the various stakeholders and internal shortcomings.

It stressed that the situation had been costly for Nigeria’s energy sector, stating that the provisions of the current Act of the energy commission were no longer in tandem with the present realities in the energy sector, hence the request for the amendment of the Energy Commission of Nigeria Bill, 2022.

The association, while urging the President to assent to the amended bill, maintained that this was the right time to strengthen the Energy Commission of Nigeria, which had the mandate of producing strategic plans for the government in the energy sector in all ramifications.

PENGASSAN noted that assenting to the energy bill in addition to the Petroleum Industry Act already signed into law by President Buhari, would go a long way in repositioning the entire energy sector, as well as the nation’s economy.

Mercy Chukwudiebere