Communiqué of the roundtable meeting with professionals on transparency and accountability in the oi

Preamble The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) with support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) organized a roundtable meeting with professional on January 23, 2014 on transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, focusing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) presently before the National Assembly.

The aim was to drum up support from stakeholders to prevail on members of the National Assembly to pass the bill into law so as to infuse a regime of transparency and accountability into the sector and make Nigerians have full benefits of their natural resource wealth.

In attendance at the roundtable were stakeholders including; Civil Society Organizations, representative of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CITN), the donor community, representative of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the media.

Concerns At the roundtable, participants noted the following concerns; !. The roundtable noted that the delay in the passage of the PIB is worrisome and disturbing considering what the PIB holds in promise for the nation. 2. The non passage of the bill has cost the nation loss of investment in excess of $20billion according to the Senate House Committee – Downstream> 3. The delay in the passage of the bill has led to a situation where billion dollar investments have found their way into sister countries with stable policies. 4. The fact that there are no political party positions on the PIB was noted and it was perceived to be worrisome. 5. There is lack of coordinated engagement of the process by members of the Civil Society. 

Resolutions  The roundtable resolved as follows; 1.   That there is need for stakeholders to come together for a final push for the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). 2.   That all CSOs working in the area of extractive should join forces and advocate for speedy passage of the PIB through the building of strategic partnership. 3.    That Centre LSD should serve as the secretariat for the final push on the PIB. 4.   That a campaign for the final push on the PIB be fixed for February 25, 2014. 5.   That the Rally Committee inaugurated for the purpose should reach out to all stakeholders including NUPENG, PENGASSAN, CSOs, media and other critical stakeholders ahead of the day.

Conclusion Centre LSD thanked participants for participating in the roundtable and making valuable contributions that are capable of moving the campaign for the passage of the PIB forward. It implored stakeholders not to relent as the passage of the bill will be of immense benefit to country. 

Signed 

1.   Mr. Jaye Gaskia Protest To Power Movement

2.   Mr. Mohammed Attah Procurement Watch

3.   Mr. Lukman Adefolahan Zero Corruption Coalition

4.   Mr. Monday Osasah Centre LSD