Anambra State House of Assembly has kicked against the passage of National Water Resources Bill, 2020 which has passed through second reading on the floor of the National Assembly.
The lawmakers called for public hearing on the Bill, before its final passage, saying that the bill was not people-oriented.
This resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by Mr Timothy Ifedioranma representing Njikoka One, in the state Assembly during plenary on Sept. 3.
The Speaker, Mr Uche Okafor, who presided over the plenary session, had put up the motion while the lawmakers unanimously adopted it through voice votes, describing the motion as timely.
In his submission, Mr Ifedioranma averred that the bill when passed would impose infringements to citizens’ right to water, which is a basic necessity of life.
He expressed dismay that in spite of laxity and inability of the various tiers of government to provide portable water to the populace, the Nigerian citizens in their usual dogged nature dig boreholes as alternative means of making water available, only for the National Assembly to come up with the obnoxious bill.
The lawmaker observed that in very clear and express terms, the Bill seeks to bring all water sources under the control of the Federal Government through its agencies to be established by the Bill.
He listed some provisions of the Bill to include making it compulsory for Nigerians to obtain a driller’s permit before sinking boreholes in their homes and entry into land in furtherance of duties.
Some of the lawmakers that spoke against the Water Resources Bill vehemently condemned it, describing it as posing great danger to human lives.
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