Assembly Correspondent Nkem Nwaeke reports that the motion to adopt the resolution was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya.
The report.
The motion for the adoption of the resolutions which was seconded by Hon Evans Iwhurie, Ethiope East was unanimously adopted by the legislators.
Addressing newsmen immediately after plenary, the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere who doubles as the Chairman, House Committee on Information, said two key issues affecting the South-South and South-East geo-political zones were discussed and resolved at the special joint parliamentary session.
Hon Owhefere named the two issues to include " The Grazing Reserve Bill before the National Assembly and Alternative Measures to Resolve the Present Dispute in the Niger Delta Instead of the Militancy Approach Adopted by Both Some Aggrieved People of the Region and the Federal Government ".
The Lawmaker stated that the Eleven Houses of Assembly, six from SouthSouth and five from SouthEast came together to seek a common ground on the two issues as well as some others affecting the people of the geo-political zones in order to properly address them and take a stand.
Hon Owhefere explained that the bill on the grazing reserve currently before the National Assembly was condemned in its entirety by the SouthSouth and South-East States Houses of Assembly as it is another obnoxious Land Use Act that had impacted negatively on the people.
He said it was observed that about 80% of the land in the geopolitical zones were already covered by oil exploration and exploitation with the attendant pollution, saying that the remaining 20% in use for farming and other purposes can not be ceded for the purpose of cattle grazing.
The Majority Leader emphasized that the SouthSouth and South-East states legislatures vehemently rejected the Grazing Reserve Bill as it is anti people of the two zones and challenged the federal lawmakers to do the needful by throwing out the bill for the sake of the unity of the country.
Hon Owhefere disclosed that the joint session also resolved by calling on the presidency to step up action and direct the security agencies in the country to brace up to the challenge of protecting lives and property from the hands of marauding herdsmen.
He said the legislators who expressed deep concern over the issue, urged the presidency to set up high powered Judicial Panel of Inquiry to unravel the fact and circumstances surrounding the incessant attacks by the herdsmen and determine the best way to prevent its reoccurrence.
The Lawmaker stated that it was agreed that the Eleven States Houses of Assembly in the two zones should come up with a bill restricting Cattle Rearing as well as prohibit grazing of Cattle from one location to another through farm lands and to establish a Special Task Force drawn from the various security agencies and neighborhood watch in each local government area to check the excesses of herdsmen.
On the situation in the Niger Delta region, Hon Owhefere said the joint session took a stand against pipeline vandalism in the area but urged the federal government to reassess its present disposition on the issue.
He stated that it was resolved that the federal government should enter into a peaceful dialogue with critical stakeholders in zones in resolving the dispute and operate within the rules of engagement without incurring collateral damage similar to that of Odi in Bayelsa state massacre of November 4th 1999.
The Lawmaker disclosed that the two zones states legislature also enjoined the presidency to revisit the performance of the amnesty program with a view of sorting out the grey areas.
He noted that the National Assembly was also challenged as a matter of urgency to ensure the accelerated passage of the Petroluem Industry Bill as it would address salient issues promoting pipeline vandalism and militancy in the region.
Hon Owhefere said there may be need to hold similar joint session with the states houses of Assembly in other geopolitical zones particularly the SouthWest
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