Senate Rejects Buhari’s Controversial Water Bill

The Senate, on Tuesday, rejected the controversial National Water Resources Bill,
after it was listed for concurrence on the order paper for consideration and
passage.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2017 presented the controversial bill
to both chambers of the National Assembly, which seeks to transfer the control of water resources from the states to the Federal Government. The bill also sought to
establish the National Council on Water Resources, Nigeria Water Resources
Regulatory Commission, River Basin Development Authorities, Nigeria Hydrological
Services Agency, and the National Water Resources Institute.
The rejection of the bill on Tuesday by the Senate put an end to the controversy
generated by the bill among Governors and Federal lawmakers, majorly from the
southern part of the country.

When the bill was read for concurrence on the floor of the Senate, Senator Gabriel
Suswan from Benue North-West, raised 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 Suswan,
stressed the need to have details of the bill since provision was made for only the
title of the bill.