By Mayowa ADENIRAN |
The National Assembly has been tasked on the need to consult widely with host communities in the current process of passing the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB to deepen ownership of the resulting legislation.
The call was made by participants at the Host Communities Colloquium on the Petroleum Industry Bill organised by OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative.
Participants at the colloquium, which included representatives from Oil Host Communities’ National Assembly, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the Media, said the PIB should be designed as a tool for resolving development challenges rather than as palliatives to host communities.
They also noted that the bill must clearly define what constitutes ‘host’ and ‘impacted’ communities, rather than leave that to the discretion of the companies.
In the communiqué issued at the end of the colloquium, it was agreed that it is essential for members of the National Assembly to conduct “visits to host communities by the Committee members and holding some of the public hearings on the Bill in the oil-producing Niger delta region.”
They also resolved that, “the Bill should make it compulsory for members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to come from host communities and give communities a stronger role in the selection process, financial management and administrative procedures of operating the Trusts.
“Needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation for projects and programmes should be jointly conducted by both the communities and companies.
“The PIB should clearly set out timelines for implementation of projects and penalties for defaulting companies.
“The PIB should adopt clearly defined incentive-based measures for protection of oil and gas assets rather than current punitive measures that leave wide room for abuse.
“The contribution of companies to the Trust Fund should be increased from 2.5% to 5% of OPEX.
“The Bill should recognize gender dimensions in the development and constitution of host communities’ structures in line with the 2019 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard.”
The communiqué was adopted by Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF); Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN); Federation of Ethnic Nationalities of Niger Delta (FENND); Eruemukovwhoarien Host Community, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State; Diebu Community, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State; Akpoti Badinugian,Youth Leader Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State.
Others are; Comrade Oloko Ibiba Gbobo, President-General, Idama/EkulamaYouth Organization Worldwide – Idama/Ekulama Kingdom & Satellite Communities, Akuku-Toru, Rivers State; Youth leader of Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa State; Comrade Afam Ogbolu,Youth Wing of Ndokwa Neku Union, Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality, Delta State and Joint National Association of People Living With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Akwa Ibom State.
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