Those who nurse the fear that the controversial Rural Grazing Area scheme may come in through the back door can now heave a sigh of relief as the Senate has killed the National Water Resources Bill, 2023 after it was listed for concurrence on the order paper for consideration and passage.
Some fear that the Buhari government decided to introduce it after the RUGA failed.
The rejection of the bill by the Senate put an end to the controversy by Governors and federal lawmakers majorly from the South.
‘The Nation’ reports that when the bill was read for concurrence on the floor of the Senate, Senator Gabriel Suswan (Benue North West) cited Order 85 of the Senate Rules which provides that Senators must have full details of the provisions of any bill coming for concurrence.
Senator James Manager from Delta South who seconded Suswam’s motion said there was a need to have details of the bill since only the title of the bill was reflected on the Order Paper.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan later sustained the objection of Senators and adjourned plenary for the day.
The House of Representatives passed the bill in 2020 amid suspicion by members and the general public.
Before the passage, Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli, said the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as well as commissioners for Justice and Attorneys-General of the 36 States of the Federation, had been consulted and the opinions received would be attached to the bill and distributed to all members.
A member of the House from Benue State, Mark Gbillah, had raised the alarm when the bill was to be taken for the first reading.
