The House of Representatives, yesterday, passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in a valedictory session to end the Seventh Assembly
Ihedioha explained that the House took painstaking steps in constituting the adhoc committee on PIB in order to reflect the diverse interests of the country noting: “I want to believe that the House has done its best and represented our constituencies very well. Barring last minute unforeseen circumstances, today may be our last sitting day.” Ihedioha had on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the political wrangling that ensued when the Bill was considered on clause by clause basis.
The House had earlier passed 14 bills out of the 46 bills transmitted by the Senate on Wednesday for concurrence without following the regular legislative procedures. Majority of the members who attended the sitting through voice vote, supported the passage of the 14 bills including Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies (Establishment) bill, National Social Welfare Commission (Establishment) bill, Labour Safety and Health bill, Acts Authentication Act, 1962 (Amendment) bill and Nigerian Football Association Act, Cap. N110, LFN, 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) bill.
Others are: Corporate Manslaughter bill, 2015; Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (Registration) bill, 2015; Criminal justice (Release from custody) (Special provisions) amendment bill, 2015; Border Communities Development Agency (Amendment) bill, 2015; Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (Amendment) bill, 2015; Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (Fiscal Incentives, Assurances and Guarantees) bill, 2015; Engineers (Registration, etc) amendment bill, 2015 and Proceeds of crime bill, 2015 among others.
