HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RESCIND PASSAGE OF WATER RESOURCES BILL

The House of Representatives has rescinded the passage of the National Water resources bill over flaws in the procedure that led to its passage bill.

The bill has been generating lots of uproar following its passage in July by the House.

Upon resumption on Tuesday, a member of the House, Ben Nzondo from Benue State moved a point of privilege and argued that the proper procedure was not followed on the bill.

The motion by Nzondo caused mild drama as members demanded that the bill be rescinded.

Speaking on the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase argued that the bill passed through proper procedure. He accused members of being absent on the floor of the House.

“How many of you were on the floor of the House that very day? Should we be changing the rules of the House midway?”

Also speaking, Kingsly Chinda noted that it’s not about merits or demerits of the bill, rather about the procedure. He noted that the motion to consider the bill relied on order 12 rule 18, rather than order 12 rule 16. Furthermore, he noted that the procedure also breached order 12 and rule 3 of the standing rules of the House.

In his ruling, speaker, Gbajabiamila closed that Nzondo had raised fundamental objections that must be looked into.

“The bill should be re-gazetted and brought back to the floor of the house for consideration and