In its place, the committee said “Dr. Rilwanu Lukman’s version” should be passed into law by the national assembly.
The omnibus law for the petroleum industry is designed to reform the oil and gas sector, which gives Nigeria over 90% of its forex earnings as well as over 60% of national spending.
The delay in passing the bill is believed to have created uncertainty in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, leading to the loss of over $80 billion in fresh investments, with investors unsure of the regulatory, political and economic conditions under which they will operate.
Most of these investments have been diverted to Angola, which has enjoyed political stability in the last decade.
“Lukman’s version”
The house of representatives had passed the latest version shortly before the last administration wound down, although the senate could not vote on it and this effectively meant the bill could not become law in the life of the Jonathan government.
However, the proposal by the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee that “Lukman’s version” should be passed may generate political and administrative hitches.
Lukman, former minister of petroleum resources under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from December 2008 to March 2010, did not originate the bill.
Lukman, who died in 2014, was special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo when the first draft of the bill was prepared but was not sent to the national assembly until Obasanjo left office in 2007.
Several versions of the bill were being sent to the national assembly under Lukman’s watch as various interests struggled to tamper with it to maximise their benefits.
“Diezani’s version”
The exit of Lukman in 2010 led to a review of the various versions by Diezani Alison-Madueke, Lukman’s successor in the ministry.
The reasons for the proposal to adopt “Lukman’s version” are not very clear, as there were no significant changes in the contentious areas, such as the fiscal regime which the international oil companies (IOCs) considered to be unfavourable.
Whereas the “Lukman’s version” provided 10% equity to oil “host communities”, this was reduced to 7.5% in “Diezani’s version” passed by the house of representatives. The definition of “host” was also expanded to cover all communities that pipelines pass through, not just where exploration is being made.
The discretionary powers to award oil licences which were granted to the minister of petroleum resources under “Lukman’s version” were retained in “Diezani’s version”, but the house of representatives removed the provision.
The Joda recommendations are currently being reviewed by a committee headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
- The Cable
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