FRESH facts on why the 9th Senate led by its President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, rejected a bill seeking to ban open grazing in Nigeria, emerged on Monday when the red chamber clarified that the proposed legislation was at variance with the powers of the National Assembly.

The bill sponsored by the lawmaker representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Kola Balogun, had not been listed for first reading since he presented it to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business in January this year.

Findings by our correspondent at the committee’s secretariat revealed that the reason the bill had not been listed in the order paper was because of a directive from the Senate leadership.An official of the committee, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “We usually list new bills and motions for presentation and seek approval from the Senate leadership.

“We had since listed this particular one on open grazing when it was submitted to us, but it was rejected by the Senate leadership; so, we have to drop it while we expect the sponsor to hold further talks with the Senate President.”

The Senator (Balogun) had in a recent chat with our correspondent, expressed concern over the continued delay in the listing of the bill, which he said, was aimed at tackling insecurity in the country by eliminating farmers/herders clashes and the invasion of southern Nigeria forests by armed Fulani herdsmen.However, the spokesperson for the Senate, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, laid the matter to rest on Monday when he told our correspondent that the anti-grazing bill was not consistent with the powers of the National Assembly.Basiru said the federal parliament could not legislate on land use matters because it remained the exclusive preserve of the state governments, going by the provisions of the Land Use Act.

How Saraki killed grazing bills in 8th Senate

Meanwhile, The PUNCH recalled that three bills sponsored by three senators in the 8th Senate on grazing-related issue were thrown away by the Bukola Saraki-led red chamber.

One of the bills, which sought to establish Grazing Management Agency and ensure the creation of grazing areas across the country, was sponsored by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central).Two other bills sponsored by Senators Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) and Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) suffered similar fate.

The Deputy President of the 8th Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, however, laid the foundation for the withdrawal of the bills.

He said the Senate lacked the power to legislate on grazing matters which the bills set out to pursue.



https://punchng.com/its-illegal-for-nass-to-make-law-on-grazing-spokesman/

everything lori iro

There is nothing illegal in Nigeria. Sincerely, Nigeria itself is illegal, if not, how come all we have been discussing since 6yrs is nothing but COW and the right to graze, if not how come Nigerian lives don't matter but that of cows matters a lot?

It is state level legislative purview. That is why states are politicising the issues and playing games.

dot buhari doesn't know that

While Buhari is still looking for 1964 Grazing reserve law

Just imagine the only issue that have gained limelight especially throughout the reign of this government is all geared towards cattle rights or wellbeing.How on earth did Nigeria arrived here for God's sake?

From the granting express visa entry to foreign Fulanis, to fiight against anti-grazing laws enacted by afflicted state government, then to forcing locals to accept their killers, then comes the RUGA/Water bill issues which all failed.

Then of all the ills beleaguring this nation, a govt is frantically trying to resurrect a non-existent Gazette on an archaic grazing route nobody have any idea on when it enacted or legislate upon.What a pity.