The national water resources bill has passed first reading
at the House of Representatives.
The bill is sponsored by Sada Soli, an All Progressives
Congress (APC) lawmaker from Katsina state.
The proposed law seeks to establish an act that would
provide a regulatory framework for Nigeria’s water resources sector.
The bill dates back to the eighth national assembly when it
was first sent to the parliament by the executive.
Recall that the bill was passed in 2020 by the green chamber
but was later withdrawn following criticism that trailed the decision of the
lower parliament.
At the time when the bill was passed by the House of
Representatives, it failed in the senate. Godswill Akpabio, the then senate
minority leader, led opposition lawmakers to kick against the bill.
The bill had sought to bring water resources — both surface
and underground — and the banks of the water sources “affecting more than one
state”, under the control of the federal government.
FRESH OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL
After the bill was read for the first time during plenary on
Wednesday, Mark Gbillah and John Dyegh — both Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
lawmakers — kicked against the proposed legislation.
Gbillah, a lawmaker from Benue, raised a point of order
questioning why the bill is being reintroduced.
“I am aware that the matter listed for first reading — the
national water resources bill — generated a lot of controversy within this
honourable house and even across the country and some of us wonder why this
issue is still being re-presented on the floor of the house, because some of us
are not comfortably in support of this bill in the first instance,” he said.
In response, Gbajabiamila said he raised the same question
with Soli, chairman of the committee on water resources.
The speaker said he was informed that governors made input
and that the concerns raised may have been addressed.
“I asked the chairman the same thing this morning and he
told me that the issues of controversy that were raised then have been
addressed by all the governors,” Gbajabiamila said.
“Apparently, it is a new bill that all the governors of the
federation, both south and north, participated in this bill and I want to take
him by his word.
“I believe that you
raised a very cogent point. We live in a very diverse country and everybody’s
sensitivity must be taken into consideration. It is subject to the
participation of all the governors, because they govern their states they know
what affects them and what doesn’t affect them.”
The speaker added that members of the house should be
“extremely vigilant” on the debate regarding the bill when it comes up for
second reading.
Visibly dissatisfied, Gbillah said the responsibility of
lawmaking rests on lawmakers and not governors.
According to him, whatever the governors might have agreed
upon may not be acceptable to lawmakers.
“It is we that have
those powers, as enshrined in the constitution, to enact legislation that will
be binding on this country,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said although he didn’t infer that governors
should “dictate to us”, legislators work in a “symbiotic relationship with the
CEOs of the states” who are, sometimes, in a better position to know what is
best for the states.
On his part, Dyegh from Benue said the contributions of the
governors are “irrelevant”.
“Governors are not legislators. They are not members of this
parliament. Their contributions, as far as this matter is concerned, are
irrelevant,” he said.
But he was interrupted by Gbajabiamila who said he has
already addressed the issue.
The speaker subsequently ruled that copies of the bill
should be made available to lawmakers before the proposed legislation is
presented for second reading.
In his remarks, Soli said governors, and state
attorneys-general have contributed to the bill, adding that he will withdraw
the proposed legislation if it is opposed by Nigerians.
“Let me assure my colleagues that the comments of the
governors’ forum are attached to the bill and the comments of the
attorney-general, which was requested by the federal ministry of water
resources, are attached to the bill,” he said.
“All attorneys-general of different states and of the
federation commented on the bill before they could address some of the issues
that were raised on the floor.
“Let me assure my colleagues on my honour. I will not stand
here to see a particular section of this country is shortchanged by the
legislation of this country. If that happens, Mr Speaker, I will withdraw the
bill in the interest of this country.”
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