By Agency Reporter

Tuesday, 14 Dec 2010

As a result of the unfolding revelations by Wikileaks, the whistle blowing website, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has called for a stakeholders’ forum to take another look at the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Speaking in Lagos on the revelations of illicit deals among policy makers in the country and their foreign collaborators, the President, PENGASSAN, Mr. Babatunde Ogun, said that the publication confirmed the fears of the oil workers over the oil industry bill and its likely impact on the oil sector reform.

PENGASSAN had persistently called for transparent and appropriate recognition of the collective interest of all stakeholders.

A statement on Monday said PENGASSAN stressed that it would be a disservice to Nigeria if the government ignored well articulated contributions made by all strategic stakeholders to improve the PIB.

The Oil & Gas Industry is quite strategic to our national survival and that is why we must be extremely careful in the passage of the Bill and be mindful of the benefit of a synergy at this point of taking critical decision.

Ogun said that the second look at the current bill will make the national assembly to assess how far the PIB has been in tandem with the national aims and objectives.

“With the startling revelation, National Assembly is challenged to publish the Bill as intended for passage, so that all stakeholders will be able to know how their inputs have been effected or appreciate any superior input that was made as substitute.

Wikileaks revealed in the publication on its website that some interests have been making moves to influence the contents of the PIB to suit their purpose, saying that the interests are more concerned about the ”very flawed” that was not in their favour in the new petroleum sector energy bill.

The cable stated that the interests will be asking U.S., Dutch, and U.K. COMs to convey points on the bill to GON policymakers.

”We are working with the House and the House appears to want to work with us.” She continued that if the Senate passes the PIB, ”We aren‘t worried.” Unfortunately, she explained, ”We think the Senate will pass a bad bill” but it won‘t really matter. She added that she would be at the Nigerian House and Senate later that day and would let the Embassy know if there were any unexpected developments.

”3. (C) The Ambassador asked if Shell had had engagements with the GON outside the National Assembly, such as with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Pickard said, ”We are meeting with them at all levels.” She noted that an IMF team headed by Charles McPherson was in Abuja to look at the PIB and that Shell would be meeting with them as well. In contrast, she said, ”We are worried about the World Bank‘s political agenda and it is not clear what their agenda is.” She said the World Bank was working on how to make the IJVs ”bankable” so that they would be able to go to international and domestic banks for financing.”

On other allegations published by Wikileaks, Ogun said that it is a revelation of high level of corruption in the country, the porous nature of nation’s security system and the kind of sovereignty Nigeria is enjoying.

He said, “Most of the issues mentioned should not be a surprised as most of them have already been implemented. Most of the advice offered by the former US ambassador to Nigeria were good and had helped Nigeria to stabilise despite a threatening situation that could have affected the nation’s unity.

“What Nigeria should be concerned about now is not only what have been revealed but how to strengthening its security and intelligence to avoid further leak in the nation’s confidential matters as well as commitment to ensuring that the country have a credible election comes 2011.”

 

Source: Punch