The Anambra House of Assembly has urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to prioritise problems of insecurity, devaluation of naira and unemployment rather than focus on passage of the Water Resources Bill.
The House made the call in a resolution at plenary on Thursday.
It said that the contents of the bill would pose as an infringement on the citizens’ right to water which is a basic necessity of life.
The resolution followed a motion raised by Dr Timothy Ifedioranma representing Njikoka I Constituency, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.
Raising the motion, Ifedioranma said that one of the contents of the bill, in Section 120, makes it compulsory for Nigerians to obtain a driller’s permit before sinking boreholes in their homes.
“It is quite unfortunate that we have this Bill to contend with at a time like this when we should encourage drilling of water provided that the necessary environmental impact assessment has been carried out.
“The essence of water to human existence can never be overemphasised.
“Do we talk about the importance of water to agriculture, production of goods and services, in civil and building construction, or the domestic uses of water?
“In very clear terms, the bill seeks to bring all water resources (surface and underground) and the banks of the water sources under the control of the federal government through its agencies to be established by the bill.
“The implications are numerous. If this bill is passed into law, the rights of citizens over fresh water resources such as ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, springs and the likes will be eroded,” he said.
Ifedioranma said that crucial national issues such as insecurity, unemployment, incessant devaluation of naira should be on the front burner, and not the Water Resources Bill.
The lawmakers after deliberations on the issue unanimously adopted the motion.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Uche Okafor, said the House had to join the vanguard of well meaning Nigerians to kick against the re-introduction of the National Water Resource Bill, 2020.
According to Okafor, the Bill is not people-oriented, as envisaged by Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Meanwhile, the House also held a valedictory session for the late Mr Frank Ekpe, a former Assemblyman, who represented Njikoka I Constituency in the House from 1999 to 2003.
