PIB: NAWOJ Makes Case For Women Representation In Oil, Gas

Female journalists in the country have demanded that the interest of women be represented in the provisions of the Petroleum Industry  Bill (PIB).

Although the Senate had passed the PIB on May 25, 2017, the bill is yet to be passed by the House of Representatives and assented by the President before it becomes law.

At a workshop tagged ‘’PIGB: X-raying women issues for media reportage’’, which was organized in Lagos, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) harped on the need for speedy passage of the bill for effective coordination of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

NAWOJ believed that poor application of policies and execution of laws was the bane of the country, while recommending strategies for implementation of the PIB when passed to achieve desired objectives.

The seminar which was organized to empower female journalists in South-south and South-west geopolitical zones of the country was organized by NAWOJ Zone B and featured talks on reforming Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Issues raised at the conference were an overview of the global and local contents underlying the reform of the oil and gas sector and how the PIB responds, and the PIB and opportunities for addressing gender-related issues.

Other discussions handled by experts including Prof Israel Aye, Engr Joe Nwakwe, Mr Ikem Okuhu, and Mr Collins Olayinka focused on the media and advocacy for the passage of the PIGB and agenda setting for reportage.

The PIB seeks to establish a framework for the creation of commercially-oriented and profit-driven petroleum entities to ensure value addition and the internationalization of the petroleum industry through the creation of effective governing institutions.