The Senate during the week had rejected the highly controversial National Water Resources Bill, 2023, which had been listed for consideration and passage by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The bill proposed the establishment of various bodies, including 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.
These bodies were intended to regulate and ensure the sustainable development, management, use, and conservation of Nigeria’s surface water and groundwater resources.
The Senate’s rejection of the bill brought an end to the heated controversy surrounding it, particularly among governors and federal lawmakers, primarily from the southern part of the country.
During the Senate session, Senator Gabriel Suswan from Benue North-West raised Order 85 of the Senate Rules, which stipulates that senators must have full details of the provisions of any bill up for concurrence.
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Senator James Manager from Delta South supported Suswan’s concern, emphasizing the need for comprehensive information on the bill, as only its title had been provided.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan ruled in favor of the cited rule, and as a result, the Senate withheld concurrence to the bill, aligning with those who opposed it.
It is worth noting that the House of Representatives had previously passed the bill in 2020, despite suspicions raised by members and the general public.
Before its passage, consultations were conducted with the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as well as commissioners for justice and attorneys-general of the 36 states.
Initially presented to the chambers of the National Assembly in 2017, the contentious bill aimed to transfer control of water resources from the states to the Federal Government.
