The Federal Government needs to embrace public sector solutions in addressing the water challenges Nigerians face, as the contents of the National Water Bill are undemocratic and inhuman.
This was part of the positions taken by participants at a one-day National Town-hall on Water Resources Bill organised by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, and the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA today in Abuja.
The bill was introduced in the 8th Assembly, caused outrage, as some Nigerians interpreted the law as a power grab by the federal government.
Prominent Nigerians who spoke against it included Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana (SAN), and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
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They said the Nigerian government needs to discontinue the toxic bill and explore democratic decision-making processes in addressing water shortages in the country.
Reacting to the reintroduction of the bill, other stakeholders also urged the Federal Government to discard the National Water Resources Bill currently before the National Assembly.
It will be recalled that when the bill was first introduced in the 8th Senate, it generated intense controversy across the country and was rejected in 2018, due to its desire to have the federal government take control of lands and water resources in the country.
