The ad hoc committees established by both the Senate and House of Representatives to investigate alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum sector have agreed to conduct a joint investigation. In a statement he signed, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) announced, “As we return fully to parliamentary sessions on Tuesday, the National Assembly will decisively address challenges in the petroleum industry.”
Bamidele emphasized that the industry is underperforming, citing issues such as crude oil theft, ongoing maintenance of public refineries, the importation of substandard petroleum products, and disruptions in fuel supply. He clarified, “Contrary to some media reports, the Senate never suspended its ad hoc committee; we simply postponed our public hearing to address procedural matters within the National Assembly.”
He confirmed that both chambers of the National Assembly would resolve pending issues and likely establish a joint committee to continue the investigation. “We are committed to uncovering the roots of economic sabotage in the petroleum industry and developing institutional mechanisms for greater efficiency,” Bamidele stated.
Additionally, he mentioned that the National Assembly is anticipating a new Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) from the Executive, which are critical for annual budget preparation. “The consideration of the MTEF is a priority on our legislative agenda, as it must be ready before the 2025 Appropriation Bill is presented,” he explained.
Bamidele also noted ongoing efforts to review the 1999 Constitution, with the Senate’s Constitution Review Committee, led by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, planning retreats, strategy sessions, and zonal meetings to gather input for proposed amendments. He concluded by expressing confidence that this exercise would foster a federative approach to reinvent public governance in Nigeria.