The National Assembly is poised to reopen its investigation into the alleged challenges facing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as announced by the Leader of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, on Monday.
To enhance the investigation, the Senate and House of Representatives will merge their separate ad hoc committees into a single joint committee.
Sen. Bamidele will chair this newly formed committee.
The inauguration of the joint committee is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, coinciding with the reconvening of both chambers in Abuja following their annual recess.
In a statement personally signed by Sen. Bamidele, he emphasized the Assembly’s commitment to addressing petroleum industry challenges. “As we resume parliamentary sessions this week, the National Assembly will unequivocally revisit its decision to tackle the issues plaguing the petroleum sector,” he stated.
He noted that the industry’s performance has been suboptimal, likely due to factors such as crude oil theft, ongoing maintenance of public refineries, the importation of substandard petroleum products, and disruptions in fuel supply.
“Contrary to some media claims, the Senate did not suspend its Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry; rather, it postponed its public hearings to address procedural issues within the National Assembly,” he clarified.
Bamidele assured that both chambers would resolve these matters and establish a joint committee to continue the investigation from where the ad hoc committee had left off. “We are dedicated to uncovering the roots of economic sabotage in the petroleum industry for the national interest and developing mechanisms to enhance the sector’s efficiency and functionality,” he affirmed.
The APC lawmaker from Ekiti State also highlighted other priorities for the Senate as members return to work, including the anticipated Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) expected from President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2025 budget estimates presentation.
“The consideration of the MTEF is a top priority on our legislative agenda,” he noted. “The MTEF must be prepared before the 2025 Appropriation Bill can be presented to the National Assembly.”
Additionally, Bamidele mentioned ongoing efforts to review the 1999 Constitution, led by the Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin. “In the coming weeks, the committee will hold retreats and strategy sessions, call for memoranda, and organize zonal meetings on sections of the constitution that require amendment,” he explained.
“With the expertise of all committee members, this initiative promises a collaborative approach that will redefine and enhance public governance in Nigeria.”
