An expert in the petroleum industry, Dr Israel Aye, says the two proposed commissions for regulation of the upstream and downstream activities in the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, will allow transparency and boost nation’s economic growth.
The two commissions in the Bill are the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority.
Doctor Aye, who stated this at a workshop organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, in Lagos, noted that the commissions would enable Nigerians to interrogate every process involved in decision making.
He decried the belief that implementation had always been the problem hindering so many policies, saying effective frameworks would deter sabotage.
Dr. Aye enjoined women journalists to support the clamours for quick passage of the PIB which he said would focus more on governance, administration and fiscal in terms of doing business and its effectiveness on the host communities.
In her remark, the Vice President, NAWOJ, B Zone, Mrs. Bola Akingbehin, urged the National Assembly to speedily pass the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Mrs. Akingbehin also tasked women journalists to support the efforts in ensuring issues that concern female were well canvassed for in the Bill.
The theme of the workshop is: “The Implications of the PIB on Gender in Nigeria”.
In a related development, the former President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole has has asked journalists to change the stereotype narratives of gender bias and dominance in the society.
Mrs. Omowole, one of the facilitators at a three day workshop organised for female journalists in Osun State tasked journalists to be objective and fair in their reportage.
Speaking of on the theme of the training is ‘Gender Equity and Safety/Gender Sensitive Reporting’, the former president of NAWOJ said responsibilities were now shifting from men to women.
According to her, gender issues are not about the women or the girl child alone, but peculiar to locations or communities, because gender issues can affect or be about men or the male child too.
She noted that everybody, male and female, must be carried along in development and governance so that there would be even development.
Mrs. Omowole said there were serious gender issues that journalists need to give optimal coverage because of the negative effect they would have on the society in the future, hence, the media must continue to sensitise, advocate and point out issues.
She urged government to make laws and enforce these laws to abolish discrimination.
Funmi Adekoya
