Abuja – The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a bill for an Act to amend the Pension Reform Act, 2004.

The bill seeks to exclude members of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service from the application of the 2004 pension scheme.

Others are the Nigeria Prisons Service, FRSC, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency from the scheme.

This was sequel to a motion by Rep. Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun), the Chairman of  the House of Representatives Committee on Defence which was unanimously rejected when put to vote by Speaker Dimeji Bankole.

Leading the debate, Oke argued that the listed organisations  undertake special duties it was the practice in countries like Argentina where Nigeria copied from.

Rep. Solomon Agidani (PDP-Benue) who spoke against the bill said that it would be wrong for the listed organisations to be excluded from the scheme.

He noted that the Armed Forces was allowed to exit because of their specialised operations and warned that any attempt to allow others to leave the scheme would not mean well for the nation.

Deputy Speaker Bayero Nafada, who supported Agidani’s view said that if the House allowed the bodies to exit , the scheme would be left in a mess.

Meanwhile, the House has urged the Petroleum Product Marketing Company  and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to effect repairs on the burst pipeline at  Ovwore Amukpe, Sapele, in Delta State.

It further urged the NNPC to put machineries in place to improve the surveillance of all oil pipelines to avert occurrence.

This was sequel to a motion by Rep. Overah Joyce (PDP-Delta) which was unanimously adopted when put to vote.

Leading the debate, Joyce said that there was a need to put some measures in place to contain future occurrences.

Rep. Halims Agoda (PDP-Delta) attributed the incidence to old pipes which were laid some years back.

He said that it was unfortunate that government could not put in place a mechanism to check the incident in a community it was benefiting from.

Rep. Igo Aguma (PDP-Delta) said that the incident was a clear case of economic sabotage.

Consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was suspended due to the absence of Reps Igo Aguma,  Chairman, House Committee on Gas and Bassey Otu, Chairman , House Committee on Petroleum Resources.

The House had earlier commenced clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. (NAN)