Petroleum Industry Bill Reps in rowdy session over 3% for oil communities

 

On Thursday, July 15, the House of Representatives witnessed a heated debate over the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

This happened after Chinyere Igwe, a member from Rivers state, staged a protest minutes after the House of Representatives began its daily session.

Igwe was protesting the adoption of a 3% host community trust fund in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the conference committee set up by both the lower chamber and the senate, chanting “the PIB report is a fraud.”

The house had voted for 5% for host communities, while the Senate had voted for 3% in the bill which will govern Nigeria’s oil industry operations.

House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila called for an executive session at 12:13 p.m. after repeated attempts to calm the agitated members failed.