The Senate on Wednesday stepped down three bills on grazing reserve due to claims by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, that the National Assembly lacks power to legislate on the issue.
The bills are: The establishment of grazing areas Management Agency and other related matters; An Act to provide for the establishment of National Ranches Commission for Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches and for connected purposes; and A bill for an Act to control the keeping and movement of cattle in Nigeria and for related matters.
During the debates on the three bills, Ekweremadu raised a point of order informing the lawmakers that the National Assembly lacks the power to legislate on grazing reserves bills.
According to him: “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“The bill should be withdrawn.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.”
After the Point of Order, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, advised the sponsors of the bills to withdraw them for further consultation.
