By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA— The Senate, yesterday, denied that the National Grazing Bill was in its possession, saying it only featured during the 7th Assembly.

The Senate’s denial of the bill came on the heels of a request from Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, who wanted to know if the bill was before the Senate.

Abaribe said his request became necessary, given similar request from his constituents, who wanted to know whether the Senate was treating any such bill.

The red chamber, in an official statement through its Committee on Rules and Business, said the bill presented for consideration in the last Senate, was sponsored by Senator Zainab Kure, who represented Niger Central at the time.

In the statement, signed by Senator Babajide Omoworare, chairman of the committee, the Senate said its explanation was borne out of several calls inundated senators from their constituents over allegation that the bill had passed second reading and was expecting possible passage.

The statement read:  “Several distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have been inundated with the request by members of the public concerning the pendency of a National Grazing Bill in the Senate.

“This is to clarify that no such bill has been presented by the executive arm of government and none has so far been filed by any Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 8th Senate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a ‘National Grazing Reserve Establishment and Development Commission Bill’ (SB. 60) was presented by Senator Zainab Kure (Niger Central) during the 7th Senate (2011 – 2015) which has now expired by the operations of law on the June 6, 2015 in furtherance of Section 64(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

Abaribe demands explanation on controversial bill

Earlier, Senator Abaribe had requested to know when the bill scaled second reading when it did not even deliberate on it.

Abaribe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, raised the alarm at the  plenary over speculation in the social media that a bill seeking to establish the National Grazing Commission had passed second reading in the 8th Senate.

Abariba, who raised a point of order under Order 43 on personal explanation, said he had been inundated with over 1,000 calls from members of his constituency and the public on the present Senate passing the said bill, a development, he said, surprised him, given that he was not aware of the bill before the present Senate.

He requested to know when the said bill was passed by the 8th Senate, even as he recalled that the bill on grazing reserve was presented at the 7th Senate by Senator Zainab Kure, who represented Niger South in the 7th Senate.

He also recalled that the bill was then rejected.

Responding, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said he had noted Senator Abaribe’s complaint.