The House of Representatives have stepped down the passage of the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill amidst protest by southern lawmakers Peoples Gazette can report.

This happened after an hour-long closed session on Thursday, during which southern lawmakers objected to the proposal to allocate paltry three per cent of equity share to oil bearing host communities.

The lawmakers were yelling five per cent instead of the proposed three per cent, Channels TV reported.

The is expected to resume when the House reconvenes from recess.

Meanwhile, the Lawan-led Senate has passed the Petroleum Industry Bill, despite opposition from some senators.

Two southern senators from the oil-producing southern states, George Sekibo and Seriake Dickson criticised the senate’s approval.

Senator Sekibo stated that he did not concede to the voting on the allocation provision, whereas Senator Dickson stated that his privilege had been violated because his views were not taken into account.

The percentage of total operating expenses (OPEX) that oil firms are supposed to contribute to a trust fund established for host communities is in dispute.

However, Senate President Ahmad Lawan shut down their motions saying that the Senate had taken a resolution on the matter and could not go back on its decision.

The host community allocation was one of the clauses left in consideration after the National Assembly passed the PIB earlier this month.