House of Representatives on Thursday discontinued deliberations on the report of the National Assembly conference committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), amidst a rowdy session.
The report which was earlier scheduled for presentation, but was stepped down for reason that may not be unconnected with percentage due to host communities.
Rep. Mohammed Monguno, the Chairman, Committee on PIB, was billed to present the report before it was dropped.
The report was on the Conference Committee on a Bill for an Act to provide legal governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry and the Development of Host Communities.
However, the House had hurriedly dissolved into an executive session to iron out some grey areas on the PIB that was deemed unacceptable to some lawmakers.
Lawmakers, especially those from the oil producing states had earlier gotten wind of the conference report that recommended three per cent for the host communities.
The lawmakers therefore engaged in a shouting match before commencement of plenary to consider the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the conference report on PIB Bill.
Rep. Chinyere Igwe (PDP-Rivers), Rep. Boma Goodhead (PDP-Rivers) and Bede Eke (PDP-Imo) were seen visibly angry and shouting that they were not going to accept the three per cent for host communities.
The trio and other lawmakers insisted that it must be five per cent and nothing less.
Recall that the House had earlier agreed on five per cent while the Senate agreed on three per cent, but the conference committee report via harmonization, settled for the three per cent.
This, however, did not go down well with the lawmakers, resulting in a shouting match and eventually snowballed into a rowdy session. The Senate had earlier adopted three per cent for the host communities.
However, sequel to the row, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other principal officers walked into the chamber without the usual announcement and immediately dissolved the House into an executive session.
