As Senator Albert Presents Report of Senate Joint Committee on Joint Cash Calls

BY ANNY MICHAELS

For a lot of reasons many will admire the tenacity of Distinguished Senator Albert as you can be sure whatever task is before him in the senate he strives to bring the results to the table. One is therefore not surprised that as the Chairman of the Senate joint Committee on Gas, Petroleum upstream, Finance and Appropriation on the joint cash calls obligations by the NNPC from 2011 to 2015. 

Precisely on Thursday 27th April, 2017, the ebullient Senator Albert who chaired the joint committee formally presented the committee report on the floor of the Senate. The journey started on Wednesday 13th April, 2016 when he first made the senate to deliberate on his motion which he titled: The urgent need for Effective implementation of Joint venture Cash Calls obligations by the NNPC in accordance with the Appropriation Act of the National Assembly. As a lawmaker of repute he felt this was necessary to uphold the National Assembly as the custodians of rules that aid our democracy to thrive.

Swiftly the very responsible senate led by Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki had mandated the committees on Gas, Petroleum upstream, Finance and Appropriation to carry out a holistic investigation on the matter and report back to the senate. The joint committees went to work consulting widely with a lot of input from experts in the oil and Gas sector including the solid contribution of the committee members which brought about the result. What is important is the seriousness the joint committee placed on the task led by Senator Bassey Albert which deserves every commendation.

Nigerians are happy that the joint committee work on Petroleum Industry Governance bill which came into public attention since 2008 in the National Assembly has yielded the expected result with the recent passage of the PIGB into law, because the vibrant Senate Committee Chair on Gas, Senator Bassey Albert is involved in partnership with other members of the committee the bill has seen the light of the day. I can recall over 70 Senators converged on Uyo at L’ meridian Hotels and Gulf Resort recently at the instance of Senator Bassey Albert, Senate Committee Chair on Gas for four days to fine tune the content of the PIGB which has actually paid of with the eventual passage of the bill.

This feat stands Senator OBA out considering that he has successfully also completed his constituency projects in the nine LGAs that make up Akwa Ibom North East which are all life touching ranging from borehole water provision with pumps for twenty four hours power supply to ensure the people get the best of this service to excellent modern toilet facilities in markets where hitherto were not available. Also deserving mention is the fact that over 130 undergraduates drawn from the Senatorial District are currently enjoying all school expense scholarship courtesy the charismatic and humane Senator. 

Aside from completely paying the school fees per semester till graduation no matter the years of study the Senator also provide school upkeep allowances for the 130 beneficiaries giving him a bill of over N12m annually to get this done. It is also interesting to state that the Senator has donated the Liaison hall at his constituency office in Uyo, tastefully furnished to his constituents at no cost to enable meet their social engagements be it wedding, naming ceremony or allied entrepreneurial activities.

Not too long ago another set of 120 constituents got trained in various vocations ranging from brick laying, bead making to obtaining culinary skills in partnership with SMEDAN and the trainees got fabulous cash rewards that is to serve as start- up capital for their new businesses amounting to over N10m. The Senator has also sustained his support for constituents in their various developmental strides to bring out the best in them. That is why the maiden edition of OBA football tourney will continue to be a reference point for the youths because never a time any politician in this clime have used sport that much to give back to society, assist discover talents and empower the youths like Senator Bassey Albert has done.    

  

Take it or leave it, Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert remains one of the most valuable politicians around Akwa Ibom and beyond.