Petroleum Ministry Defends N9.6bn Budget, Sets Up Innovation C’ttee

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The ministry of petroleum resources, led by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and his gas counterpart, Ekperikpe Ekpo have defended the ministry’s budget of N9.641 billion before the joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on Petroleum Resources.

A statement by the ministry quoted Lokpobiri as explaining that the ministry’s 2024 budget proposal was a substantial improvement on the 2023 budget.

He also emphasised that the ministry of petroleum resources was more of a policy-driven ministry and does not execute projects that address given concerns.

Lokpobiri cited the Host Communities Fund (HCF) provided by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) targeted at addressing the concerns of oil producing communities as critical to developing the Niger Delta, according to a statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa.

The minister explained that government had a number of agencies that were mandated to carry out different responsibilities, while the ministry provided policies that would guide the operations of the companies that are doing business in the oil and gas industry.

He therefore assured the legislators that the concerns they expressed would be taken to the appropriate quarters and see how those concerns would be addressed.

In his opening remarks at the sitting, the Chairman Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Jarigbe Agom, said it was the duty of the joint committee to ensure the effective allocation of resources for the advancement of the country’s petroleum sector.

He added that the oversight function was predicated on fostering transparency, efficiency and sustainable development within the ministry, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries.

The minister urged all stakeholders to engage in open dialogue and provide insightful inputs that would contribute to the formulation of a budget that aligns with the national priorities.

The statement added that the legislators raised a number of reservations about some inadequacies and shortcomings of the budget proposal.

Specifically, they frowned at the “paltriness” of the budget proposal as it didn’t capture the refineries and also failed to include other initiatives aimed at alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians, occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Gabriel  Aduda, has charged the newly inaugurated members of Innovation Committee to come up with a new vision for  the ministry to replace the old ones.

The permanent secretary, a statement from the Assistant Director of Information, Chris Ugwuegbulam, said gave the charge at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja.

He was represented at the event by the Director, Human Resources Management Department in the ministry, Mrs. Asma’u Adaji.

Aduda stated that members of the committee were carefully chosen by their various directors and heads of units with the belief that they would effectively and efficiently drive the process.

The permanent secretary pointed out that innovation is the driving force that propel societies towards breaking the shackles of status quo and ushering in a new era of knowledge and development.

“It also enables civil servants to undertake government’s programmes and activities using internet and smart electronic devices to achieve results fast and more efficiently,” he stated.

The mandate included linking departmental vision with ministerial mandate; understudying other oil producing nations with a view to introducing best practices and engaging in comparative analysis of other oil producing countries.

Earlier, the Chairman of the  Committee and Director, Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement Department in the Ministry, Mrs. Grace Okani,  noted that the essence of constituting the committee was to serve as the “think tank” of the ministry.

She also urged them to proffer possible ways of achieving the assigned mandates of the ministry.

The 15-member  committee, chaired by Okani also has Albert Chioma(Special Duties Department); Caleb Samuel (Finance and Accounts) and Agbo Anthony (Human Resources Management), among others.