The National Assembly is set to jointly investigate alleged economic sabotage within Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
This was disclosed by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate’s investigative ad-hoc committee. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had separately set up committees in July to address this issue, but these efforts will now be consolidated into a joint investigation.
Senator Bamidele, in a statement on Monday, emphasized that the National Assembly is committed to revisiting challenges plaguing the petroleum industry as the legislative session resumes. He pointed out critical issues such as crude oil theft, prolonged turnaround maintenance of refineries, substandard petroleum imports, and fuel supply disruptions, all contributing to the sector’s underperformance.
Contrary to reports suggesting the suspension of the Senate’s ad-hoc committee, Bamidele clarified that the public hearing was only postponed to resolve internal procedural matters within the National Assembly. The investigation remains active, and the National Assembly will work decisively to address inefficiencies and restore the petroleum sector to optimal performance.
”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.
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”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”, the statement said.
He added that both chambers are expecting the new Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy Paper from the Executive which he says are integral parts of the 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 Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau. Jibrin.
The statement added that “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.
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