From Jude Owuamanam, Managing Editor, Northern Operations
BALI, Taraba (Sundiata Post) – The chairman of the Taraba State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee on the Taraba State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill 2017, Dr. Mark Useni, has said that a total of 98 memos were received by the committee on the completion of its assignment
Useni told journalists in Bali, where the last public hearing of the bill took place, that since the beginning of the legislative arm of government in the state, no bill has received the widest attention from the public as the anti open grazing bill.
He, however, said the job of reading through all the submission will be difficult but the committee will submit their report to the assembly in good time just as they will ensure justice, fair play and maximum respect for every opinion.
Useni, who is representing Takum 11 state constituency, gave assurance that the committee will read through all the submission to be able to come out with a correct representations of the interest of the majority of the people of the state.
Meanwhile, the state attorney and commissioner for justice, Mr. Yusufu Nya Akirikwen, in his submission during one of the sittings of the committee, cleared air on the anxiety created by those opposed to the bill that it contravenes the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
According to the attorney general, section 41(1) of the constitution which the groups so much made reference to, allows all Nigerians to reside in any part of the country but at the same time section41 (2) is a limitation as it states thus::“Not Withstanding the provisions of subsection 1, any law that is being made by the state for good governance, the provisions of subsection 1 does not take away the powers of making such a law.”
He explained further that where one citizen’s rights ends another one’s own begins, therefore all have equal rights and in expressing ones rights all citizens should be conscious of the limit or boundaries of their rights.