Group calls for passage of PIGB, Amendment of 2020 Appropriation Act

The National Assembly has been charged to ensure the immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) and amendment of the 2020 Appropriation Act.

The call was made on Tuesday by a Civil Society Organisation, YIAGA AFRICACentre for Legislative Engagement, which also called on the National Assembly to subject all executive actions in COVID-19, appropriation to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector, a framework for managing public health crises, investigation and response to reports of human rights violations.

Executive Director, YIAGA AFRICACentre, Samson Itodo, in a statement also pointed out that the lifeline of COVID-19 will be determined principally by the responsiveness, accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness of government’s response.

READ ALSO: Two new COVID-19 laboratories activated in Lagos, Ogun

The statement by YIAGA reads in part, “This resumption is coming against the background of increased cases of Coronavirus and its determination to wreak havoc on the nation’s economy and annihilate our population.

“As of March 24, 2020, when the National Assembly proceeded on recess, Nigeria had 44 cases and one death. Within the one-month break, the case profile has risen to 1,273, with 40 deaths spread across 32 states based on data released by the NCDC on April 26, 2020. This case progression calls for urgent action by all arms of government to prevent further transmission of the virus and mitigate its harsh effects on livelihoods.

“As the National Assembly resumes legislative activities, the Yiaga Africa Centre for Legislative Engagement (CLE) recommends the following pathways for an improved legislative response to COVID-which require administrative decisions and legislative actions,” the group added.

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