Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Thursday assured Nigerians that the Electoral Act Bill which is before the National Assembly will be passed on or before July 2021.
On Thursday he explained that the Senate had set a timeline for achieving the passage of the controversial bill.
He said he was upbeat about the passage of the electoral amendment bill now being processed by the Assembly.
“I want to assure Nigerians that we have a target and we think it’s a realistic target. It’s doable and we have the determination and capacity to effect the amendment (to Electoral Act) before we go on summer break in June/July and our committee has done so much work,” Lawan said.
Similarly, Lawan said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which is before the National Assembly will change the fortune of the country by the time it becomes law.
“The PIB is going to be a piece of legislation that in our estimation will change the economic fortune of Nigeria and of course improve the earnings by our businesses who are here and we want to attract many more investments into the oil and gas industry in Nigeria,” Lawan said.
The Senate President spoke in his office while playing host to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing CB.
Lawan said the ninth Assembly would ensure the passage of the PIB as promised even though, he pointed out, that the bill had “suffered from a demonic influence” by refusing passage since 2008 when it was first introduced to the sixth Assembly.
“We are so confident that we will be able to pass this bill by April. We want it signed into law by May and we want every stakeholder to be a winner,” Lawan said.
