President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has urged lawmakers to track, monitor and supervise the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after assent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He made the call in a keynote address at the Conference of Presiding Officers of the Nigerian Legislature (COPON) held on Saturday in Abuja.

The theme of the conference was: “Public Perception of the Role of Legislature: Post Legislative Scrutiny and Independence of the Legislature.”

The National Assembly broke the 20-year old jinx by passing the PIB on Thursday.

The president of the senate said: “We passed the PIB. But what is important is for the National Assembly to continue to track, monitor and supervise the implementation of the PIB when it is eventually assented to by the President and the execution starts.

“This is because this is a 319 clause legislation and it is so sensitive, so central to our economy and lives of the people, particularly the host communities in the Niger Delta, in oil-producing states.

“So we need to devote sufficient time to ensure that the implementation, especially in the Host Communities Fund is done in such a way that what we think and anticipate will happen in host communities happens.

“Otherwise, we have to come back and see where the flaws will be,” he explained.

On legislative scrutiny, Lawan said it was a learning process that reduced ambiguity and distrust by allowing the legislature to learn by doing.

“Post legislative scrutiny will encourage citizens to engage more with parliament and improve the quality of our laws and governance. For this to be achieved, we must develop the political will and make available time, funds and other resources to get it done,” Lawan said.

In his remarks, Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, said: “Public perception of the legislature is a topic that has been debated and talked about.

“It is a losing battle, you cannot win, but public perception is public perception. No matter what you do, it is all about the National Assembly. Unfortunately, public perception and what is right and what is legal and what is constitutional, are in a thug of war and it is a very difficult and delicate balancing act.

“One has to be very careful because even where the country catches on a slight cold, you blame it on the National Assembly. There is a lot of work still to do. As legislators, our ability to do what is required of us in this joint task of nation-building depends on how well we can work together with Federal legislatures and across the legislature from the 36 states,” Gbajabiamila said.

Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Amos Ojo, noted that the meeting of COPON was last held more than a decade ago.

He lamented that public perception of the legislature in Nigeria was often tilted in the direction of heavy criticism which was why the theme of COPON 2021 remained very instructive and strategic.

“A case of note is the recent overblown case of the leaking roof at the national assembly. Against this backdrop, l am using the opportunity of this COPON 2021 to urge the Nigerian media and Nigerians to change their stereotype perception of the legislature in Nigeria,” he asserted.

(The Guardian)

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