Governors dismiss controversial water resources bill
A unanimous opposition to the contentious National Water Resources Bill was yesterday declared by the Governors of the 36 states of the federation.
The Governors described the proposed legislation as unconstitutional, adding that it did not carry states along.
According to a communique handed out at the end of the 5th teleconference meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held on Tuesday, the governors “argued that the bill does not adequately address interests of the states and is inconsistent with provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The bill, according to the forum, should be reviewed, with a view to accommodating the concerns of all states.”
The bill is the subject of a rumoured impeachment move against House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, The Guardian reports.
In 2018, Senate had dismissed the bill on account of its unpopularity across the country.
Nexus News gathered that the bill, as introduced in the 8th and current National Assembly, seeks to endow the Federal Government to regulate all water resources in the country, such as rivers, streams, lakes and underground water.
While northern senators, especially APC senators and Muslims, endorsed the bill and its objectives, their southern counterparts, mostly Christians, were strongly against it.
According to opponents, if passed into law, it would impede present move towards devolution of powers.
