Enforce Oil Companies/Shipping Regulation Law, Lawmaker Urges Akpabio

The Member Representing Uruan State Constituency, in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly; Hon. Kufreabasi B. Etuk has called on the relevant agencies of government to put up the necessary machinery to enforce the law that provided for the regulation of operations of oil companies, registration of vessels and collection of plying levy on vessels plying the state territorial waters and for other matters connected therewith.

The Bill which was signed into law since 30th May, 2007, according to Hon. Etuk required every company operating or engaged by a company operating in the State to open and maintained a functional office in the State. Among other things, such companies are to register with State Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of coming into force of the law. Also, the companies were to submit to the Commissioner for Finance; a copy of every contract, supply or other business engagement entered into by the company to facilitate proper assessment of the company for purposes of levy and rate.

Hon. Etuk who came under Order II, Rule IV of the Standing Order of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly informed members that the imperatives of its implementation, apart from enhancing the revenue base of the State, will create employment opportunities and encourage responsibility toward the environment.

Even though the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Elder)Samuel Ikon deferred the discussion on the information till next plenary, Hon. Etuk said the law establishes Oil companies/Oil servicing companies Regulations/Monitoring Committee with the mandate, among other things to investigate and recommend appropriate sanctions in relation to any oil company/ oil servicing or shipping company that has failed, neglected or refused to honour any part or whole of any memorandum of understanding or agreement or has contravened any section of the law or any law relating to its operation in Akwa Ibom State.

Also, the Committee is to act as agent of the State Government for the purposes of collecting fees, levies and revenue accruable to the government from oil companies, to ensure that the relevant companies conform to all terms and conditions of their contract as they affect the community and or the state, to liaise with the oil companies for the purpose of ascertaining whether the provision of this law has been complied with.

He noted with utter dismay that such a law has remained in the locker room of the executive since 2007, without attempt at enforcing or creating due awareness as per its existence thereby depriving the state of huge revenue and other benefits that could have accrued from its implementation.

“There are several oil companies doing business in Akwa Ibom and generating effluent and sundry pollution to our environments without having a functional office in the state just as there are several vessels plying and discharging waste into our territorial waters without registration, without paying requisite levies and in violation of international conventions, environmental norms and regulations as well as the laws made in this hallow chambers. These, they do, either because they are unaware of the stipulations of the law regarding their operations in the state or simply capitalizing on the apparent lack of enforcement machinery” he explained.

“While it is true that the executive is the organ of government primarily charged with the responsibility of implementing the laws and policies of the state, Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution as amended has conferred on the legislature, the power of oversight function. It is by virtue of this Constitutional power,, we, as responsible, focused, visionary and patriotic legislative Assembly, have a duty not only to make laws but to also get genuinely involved in the process of monitoring implementation of the laws made by us for peace, security, good governance and sustainable democracy. It is only then we can truly express our commitment to the goal of ensuring that the sovereign will and passion of the people as well as their socio-economic and political aspirations are jealously guarded, protected and enhanced. In absence of this, the laws made by us will end up becoming either history books or mere statements of intention or admonition and at best, dead laws.” Hon Etuk argued.

It should be noted that, The Oil Companies and Vessels (Registration of Business and Plying Levy) Law, was, upon the Governor’s decline of assent, passed the second time by a 2/3 majority of the Members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2006, pursuant to Order 7 Rule 10 (3) of the House’s standing Order and section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered). (Press Release from Press Secretary to the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Wednesday October 10, 2012)