The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan cautioned against tampering or manipulating the disbursement of the three percent ($500 million) compensation which accrues to host communities by the appointed people.
Lawan said the PIA can be brought back to the National Assembly for amendment.
He disclosed this to State House correspondents after the brief ceremony where President Muhammadu Buhari announced the setting up of an implementation committee for the new law.
According to him, it is when implantation starts, that’s when people will start to see where amendment is needed.
Lawan said the host communities are winners as well, adding that what some of them had hoped, with time, such issues will be further addressed.
He said, “So this is something we all have to address with some optimism and hope that it will be Okay. But because we are human beings, no act of human beings could be perfect. So when we are able to see issues, the National Assembly is there. Bring them for amendment. Even the most difficult issues can still be brought back to the National Assembly – if it is worthwhile to do so, but I believe that there is no need for us to be emphasising the problems rather than the prospects.”
“But you know from zero to over $500 million and with time, such issues will be further addressed but I want to also caution that it is not the $500 million that is more important but how we are able to prudently and transparently deploy this $500 million in the host communities. This time around, there should be no excuses for anybody to tamper with this money.”
