The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has picked a minimum of six holes within the Petroleum Industry Act signed by President Muhammad Buhari on Monday.
They described the regulation as a recipe for catastrophe.
According to Nation, the governors recognized six unfavourable areas in an August 10 letter to the President.
They pleaded with him to withhold his assent to allow the National Assembly take one other have a look at the Bill alongside the strains of their observations.
The letter was signed on their behalf by Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), EKiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The recognized pitfalls, in line with the governors are in Sections 9(4) and (5); 33; 53(2), (3); (4); 54 (1) and (2); 55 (1); and 64(c).
Despite the request for a keep of motion, President Buhari obtained the recommendation to signal the Bill on his return from the United Kingdom on the weekend.
He signed the Bill whereas observing self-isolation on Monday.
The points the governors raised embody; The regulation will deny states their justifiable share from the Federation Account as a result of it favours the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which is able to rework to a restricted legal responsibility firm.
The governors, who nonetheless hailed the regulation nearly as good for the oil and fuel sector, are sad concerning the provisions for the incorporation of NNPC Limited below the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
They stated slightly than reforming the sector, the Petroleum Industry Act has made the NNPC Limited a extra highly effective oil firm.
They faulted the removing of the requirement to switch funds into the Federation Account as unconstitutional.
The letter by the governors, reads partly: “We note with great shock and displeasure that the interests of the sub-nationals were not put into consideration in the bill that was recently passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
“In a previous communication with the leadership of the National Assembly, we had noted that Section 53 of the Bill provided for the incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to carry out petroleum operations on a commercial basis.
“The said Section 53 in (2) went on to provide for consultations between the Ministers of Petroleum and Finance on the number and nominal value of the shares to be allotted which “shall form the initial paid-up capital” of NNPC Limited and additional added that the Company shall subscribe and pay money for the shares.
“In our said letter, we observed that the wording of (3) suggested that only the Federal Government would have shares in this company and stated that ownership of all the shares in the company shall be vested in Government and held by the Ministry of Finance on behalf of Government.
“This sub-section is silent on what Government it referred to, but an inference could clearly be made by the express mention of the Ministry of Finance as the sole custodian of the shares.
“We then recommended that a framework that accommodates the states be worked out and included in the allotment of shares and incorporation of NNPC Limited. We observed that excluding states from this arrangement precluded them from having a voice in the running and administration of the company and excludes them from sharing in the distribution of dividends when they become due.
“In the same vein, Section 53 (4) of the Bill provides that the Ministry of Finance Incorporated in consultation with the Government, may increase the equity capital of NNPC Limited. Here again, we note the non-inclusion of sub-nationals in the consideration of this very important provision and recommend that the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Central Bank of Nigeria in consultation with the Federation Governments and Federal Capital Territory, may from time to time increase the equity of NNPC Plc.”
The governors raised some basic points bordering on the removing of the requirement to switch fiscal funds to the Federation Account; 30% revenue oil and fuel as Frontier Exploration Funds; and the imposition of fuel flare penalties.
They stated slightly than reforming, the Petroleum Industry Act has made NNPC Limited a extra highly effective oil firm.
“We do not believe that in passing this Bill, the National Assembly gave adequate consideration to every relevant facet of our federation, and this can be a recipe for disaster.
“The afore-mentioned concerns represent some of the many pitfalls in this Bill capable of hurting the federation and we respectfully pray Mr. President to withhold assent pending the resolution of all the thorny areas,” the governors stated.