The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the disbursement and utilization of N100billion released for the construction of mini ranches across the country. Moving the motion titled “Urgent Need to Investigate N100billion ($625million) released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the construction of Modern mini ranches across the Nation”at the plenary session of Thursday, January 19 2017, Hon. Karimi S. Sunday (Kogi) noted the recurring attacks and killings between herdsmen and local farmers over the grazing of cattle on farmlands.
Hon. Karimi explained that the Federal Government had set up a Committee on Grazing Reserves under the Chairmanship of the former Governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam in 2014. According to him, the Committee had identified issues causing conflicts between herdsmen and farmers and resolved to recover and improve on grazing routes that had been encroached on. Consequently, the Grazing Reserves Committee recommended the release of N100billion through the CBN as seed funding to all 36 States in Nigeria for the construction of ranches which the National Executive Council (NEC) approved in its bid to boost agricultural yields and end conflicts arising from the traditional method of grazing.
Further addressing the issue, the lawmaker mentioned that the release of the funds contravened Section 80 (4) of 1999 Constitution (as amended) which provides that “no moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) or any other Public Fund of the Federation except in a manner prescribed by the National Assembly”. He also acknowledged that despite the release of the money, there has been no ranch construction anywhere thereby leading to more killings.
The Ad-hoc Committee is expected to report back it’s finding within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
