Senate orders implementation of PIA as Buhari transmits two bills

•PDP govs restate call for e-transmission of election results
•YIAGA urges new electoral law ahead of 2023

The Senate, yesterday, gave a marching order for the expeditious implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Its President, Ahmad Lawan, in a welcome address to the lawmakers on returning from their yearly summer recess, directed the Senate Committees on Petroleum Downstream, Petroleum Upstream and Gas to start oversight work in that respect.

He explained that the resolution was to ensure that Nigerians reap the benefits of the legislation as soon as possible.

Lawal reiterated the resolve of the upper legislative chamber to review the 1999 Constitution and speedily pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2010.

The Yobe-born politician pledged to work closely with all stakeholders to harmonise issues that could strengthen Nigeria as a more united and stronger federation.

Lawal said he and his colleagues would bequeath a country where unity, faith, peace and progress are hallmarks.

He pointed out that the National Assembly “is proud to be a major factor turning around the economic fortunes of the country.”

TO check proliferation of arms and regulate importation and exportation of explosives, President Muhammadu Buhari has transmitted two executive bills to the Red Chamber.

Titled Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill 2021 and Explosives Bill 2021, the transmission was accompanied by two separate letters dated August 26 and 27.

The correspondences were read at plenary by the Senate President.

IN another development, the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has charged both chambers of the National Assembly to “rescue Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that the desired changes are effected to guarantee credibility in the nation’s electoral system.”

Making the appeal in a statement as the lawmakers begin work on the final stage of the bill, the governors urged them to rise above partisan politics to pass the amendment to allow for electronic transmission of election results.

Tagged ‘Electronic Transmission: PDP Governors’ Forum Tasks National Assembly Conference Committee To Rescue Nigeria’s Democracy – Asks NASS to be guided by patriotism and national interest’ and signed by chairman of the forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwual, in Abuja, the statement enjoined the legislators to immediately set up the conference committee to harmonise the different versions of the bill passed by the two chambers.

The governors warned that any further delay in passing and assenting to the piece of legislation would spell doom for the 2023 general elections.

ALSO yesterday, YIAGA Africa warned that the country risked losing any meaningful mileage in its quest for national unity and democratic consolidation if a new electoral framework is not concluded and tested before the general elections.

Its Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, who gave the warning y in Abuja, said only an all-encompassing Electoral Act that could address some of the challenges in the electoral process and build citizens’ confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.