PIB: Senate set to introduce host community development legislation

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki,  has stated that the Senate will introduce a Host Community legislation to complement the Governance and Institutional Framework Bill of the revised PIB that passed Second Reading at the Senate

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu,  Saraki stated that with the institutional and governance framework aspect of the PIB at the Committee Stage, it was necessary for the Senate to begin work on the passage of the host community development legislation, which according to him, is aimed at addressing issues relating to community participation, security and the ecological debt incurred by host communities from oil extraction.

He stated that “For many years now the PIB has been stalled at different stages for one reason or the other, at this point, the Senate is ready and willing to do everything that it takes to get Nigeria’s economy out of this recession,” adding that an efficient and effective management of our oil resources is a key component of this.

“Now that the legislation to provide a governance and institutional framework for the petroleum industry has passed Second Reading, it is time to re-introduce the host community development legislation to address the legitimate agitations of the people of the Niger Delta,” he noted.

The Senate President also disclosed that he had asked legislators from the Upper Legislative Chamber to work together and introduce the host community development legislation, within four weeks, emphasising the fact that the predicaments of host communities that have faced the adverse effects of oil exploration for decades, need to be addressed.