President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Timipre Sylva, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, as head of the committee on the implementation of the newly signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, who announced this in a statement, said the committee has 12 months for the assignment, and periodic updates will be given to Mr President within the period.
Other members of the committee are: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Executive Chairman, FIRS, Representative of the Ministry of Justice, Representative of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Natural Resources, Barrister Olufemi Lijadu as External Legal Adviser, while Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, will serve as Head of the Coordinating Secretariat and the Implementation Working Group.
According to Adesina the primary responsibility of the steering committee shall be to guide the effective and timely implementation of the PIA in the course of transition to the petroleum industry envisaged in the reform programme, and ensure that the new institutions created have the full capability to deliver on their mandate under the new legislation.
