Senate Steps Down Grazing Reserve Bills
The Senate has suspended deliberations on three bills concerning grazing reserve. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the National Assembly lacks power to legislate on the issue.
The first bill to be stepped down is the establishment of grazing areas Management Agency and other related matters. The second one is An Act to provide for the establishment of National Ranches Commission for Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches and for connected purposes. Last one is the bill for an Act to control the keeping and movement of cattle in Nigeria and for related matters.
Point Of Order
During the debates on the three bills, Ekweremadu raised a point of order. He informed the lawmakers that the National Assembly lacks the power to legislate on grazing reserves bills.
“We don’t have power on grazing reserves bills. It is under the purview of the states.”
“It is not in the exclusive list. The bill should be withdrawn.”
“I challenge anybody to show me the exclusive list where it is under the purview of the National Assembly to legislate on that matter.”
Meanwhile, Senate President, Bukola Saraki advised the sponsors of the bills to withdraw them for further consultation. This came after the Point of Order by his Deputy.
