The Energy Commission of Nigeria Amendment Bill, 2022 has been urgently urged by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to be signed into law before May 29th, 2023, when the current administration will pass the baton to the incoming one.

The Association claimed in a press release that its Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, and President, Comrade Festus Osifo, had jointly endorsed that the appeal was a result of the Bill’s negligence since it had been sent to the President’s Office on November 28, 2022.

The press release reminded President Buhari of the Energy Commission of Nigeria’s crucial contribution to nation-building and stated that the commission is expected to meet the nation’s energy needs in crucial areas, particularly by promoting energy development in the nation.

PENGASSAN stressed that the situation has been costly for the Nigerian energy sector and blamed the Energy Commission of Nigeria’s inability to carry out its mandated duties on bureaucratic breakdowns with the various stakeholders and internal shortcomings.

It showed that the current Energy Commission Act’s provisions are no longer in line with the energy industry’s current realities, which is why an amendment to the Energy Commission of Nigeria bill, 202, was requested.

While urging President Buhari to sign the amended bill, the Association also argued that now is the ideal time to strengthen the Energy Commission of Nigeria, which is tasked with developing strategic plans for the government in all aspects of the energy sector.

Assending to the Energy Bill in addition to the Petroleum Industry Act, which President Buhari already signed into law, will significantly reposition the entire energy sector as well as the overall national economy, according to PENGASSAN.