The Senate on Wednesday 9th November, 2016 stepped down the consideration of three (3) bills. They are:
- A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of Grazing Areas Management Agency (SB. 292) sponsored by Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC:Kano);
- A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of National Ranches Commission for the Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches (SB. 293) sponsored by Sen. Barnabas Gemade (APC:Benue);
- A Bill for an Act to Control the Keeping and Movement of Cattle in Nigeria (SB.311) sponsored by Sen. ChukwukaUtazi (PDP:Enugu).
Although the bills were originally listed on the order paper and slated for consolidation, Sen. Abaribe (PDP:Abia) suggested that they contained different subject matters and as such, should be considered individually. However, the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP:Enugu) took a different view by calling for the withdrawal of the bills on the grounds that the Senate lacked the constitutional powers to legislate on livestock. He also cited section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and stated that the matter was solely within the purview of the State Houses of Assembly to legislate and that“livestock” falls under matters in the Residual List. However, debate on this issue was stalled as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki (APC: Kwara) immediately called for the consideration of the bills individually at a later date.
It is important to note that the Constitution only makes mention of the Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative Lists and does not contain the term “residual list.’ The residual list is implied from section 4 (7) which allow States to legislate on areas outside of the Exclusive and Concurrent Lists.
