Ribadu report White Paper may be ready Monday

The White Paper of the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Special Taskforce’s report may be ready on Monday, two months behind schedule.

Findings by our correspondent showed that the document may be ratified by members of the drafting committee when they meet on Monday in Abuja.

Upon ratification, the White Paper, it was learnt, would then be presented to President Goodluck Jonathan for the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

Jonathan inaugurated the committee led by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu, last November 15, after Ribadu presented the report to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee was given two weeks to submit its report.

A source close to the committee told our correspondent that the panel sought an extension of time from the President when members found out that the initial two-week deadline would not be feasible.

Although he said the President granted the request, he did not disclose the duration of the extension.

The source said contrary to the fears that job has not started on the matter, the committee had met about 15 times at a five-star hotel in Abuja.

He said, “It is true that they were given two-week duration. But they asked for extension which the President granted.

“They needed the extension because it took them about nine days to gather all the materials needed.

“It is therefore not true that they have not been meeting.”

Our correspondent further learnt that the FEC maybe debating the White Paper any time this month.

The Ribadu report had earlier generated controversy when an international news agency, Reuters, quoted extensively from the document which it described as confidential in a news item on its website.

With the leakage of the report, stakeholders including labour unions and civil society organisations accused the Federal Government of attempting to cover up, an allegation that was quickly denied by the Presidency.

In a bid to prove his sincerity, Jonathan directed Ribadu to submit the report to him.

During the presentation, a drama played out when the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Mr. Steve Oronsaye; and another member, Mr. Bernard Otti, openly disagreed with Ribadu over the process that produced the report.