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..after suffering regular death sentences in NASS
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila is one man Nigerians should start adoring for starting another early sojourn on the almost 20years old Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.
This is about the fastest Assembly to commence work on the PIB and the speaker should be commended for this laudable effort towards legislative business in the ninth House.
Recall that TNG had exclusively published three well-researched stories on PIB detailing ways and means to get this all-important Bill to fly.
Using infographics and in-depth interviews, TNG had x-rayed the advantages of how the four components of the piece of legislation can galvanise the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.
This must have galvanised the Nigerian lawmakers to quickly set up the adhoc committee in record time.
But can this his wise men timely deliver without going into funfair like previous adhoc committees that would wait till dying minutes of the House before submitting the PIB report?
Will the wise men not junket around the globe attending seminars and talkshops on how to work on a Bill that is already completed?
The Senate under the watch of Senator Bukola Saraki started early and a milestone was recorded.
Can this wise men deliver within the next two years and at least save us the shame of passing one piece of legislation for 23years.
If it’s passed in 2021 and if it’s not faulted by President Muhamnadu Buhari then passing it took the parliament 21years and if it came to pass that the methuselah Bill scales through the credit should be given to Gbajabiamila.
If three assemblies could not see it through and the fourth gets it right then the 20 wise men deserve all the accolades.
But a quick peep at these 20 wise men inaugurated on Wednesday to midwife the PIB clearly points to the fact that it may take a longer period.
Some of the wise men include: Hon. Sada Soli (Katsina APC) Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Fulata (Jigawa, APC), Hon. Henry Nwanwuba Imo, PDP), Hon. Ali Haruna (Kano APC), Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (Edo, APC), Hon.Gogo Bright (Rivers, PDP), Hon. Babajimi Benson (Lagos,APC), Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa,APC) Hon. Uju Kingsley (Imo,APC) and Onofiok Luke (Akwa-Ibom PDP).
Sada as Chairman was a very good choice considering his vast legislative experience from the sixth Assembly.
Also as a two time Chief of Staff to Governor Aminu Tambuwal a versatile lawmaker with a Midas touch both as a speaker and governor.
But his experience alone cannot see the PIB through or it dies on arrival.
Babajimi Benson is a very refined and a polished meticulous lawmaker better described by his colleagues as a stainless lawmaker.
His wealth of experience too could assist the committee. He is a second timer and a very good choice too by Mr Speaker.
Abdulrazaq Namdas, a veteran journalist is also a good weapon after handling a sensitive committee on crude oil theft in the 8th Assembly. He is a second timer.
Gogo Bright too has a lot to offer as he was a vibrant voice in the 8th Assembly.
Onifiok Luke, a former president of Nigeria’s youth parliament and state Assembly member was a good pick.
The five listed lawmakers are very visible out of the 20 Gbajabiamila wise men.
Five over twenty is not a good score but if the wise men can eschew oily fingers then it may just be eldorado for the oldest Bill.
The temptations from the evil men in the assembly must be avoided because out there the PIB has too many enemies willing to oil the fingers of these wise men.
Mr Speaker has done his part it’s left for the wise men to do the needful positively.
If the ninth Assembly fails, Nigerians may not be in a hurry to forget the promises of the previous Senate president, the present one Ahmad Lawan who promised last July that his Senate will break the PIB jinx.
Gbajabiamila has started well but he should equally watch out for the banana peels associated with the PIB.
On its part TNG will continue to be in the forefront to ensure the PIB sees daylight as this Bill will further transform Nigeria and Nigerians if passed into law.
The remaining three components of the PIB must not die.
Nigerians are waiting!