Understanding the Water Resources Bill, Police Reform Bill- Barr. Jide

 In recent times, there have been several arguments or debates over assenting the laws. The CAMA has become a law. But the water Resources Bill is still being talked about with heavy criticisms from Nigerians , especially the southern regions.

Following this, The Social Watch has made the attempt to further educated the masses on the provisions of the bills, merits and demerits if assented. This came on an online Zoom, interview session organized by The Social Watch, where Barrister Lawal Jide addressed the topic. Better Understanding of the CAMA law, Police Reform and Water Resources Bill*

*in inFirst what is *CAMA* ? It is the *Companies and Allied Matters Act* and the regulatory agency is *Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)*. The law which was promulgated in 1990 has been overdue for review with some of its provision as stale as the coal-engine train. It regulates the birth, sustenance and winding up of business organization, ranging from one-man business, companies and NGOs. The new law came with some shocking provisions amidst its long awaited birth, some of which includes:

1. Reducing the involvement of professionals in the registration of businesses especially the small scale businesses. Meaning anyone can register a business without recourse to lawyers, accountants or chartered secretaries. This will help water down the need for this professionals and make registering businesses as easy as ABC.

This will enable government have a concrete idea of all businesses in operation and control them as well as tax them appropriately.

2. Giving legal notice of limited partnership. A partnership that operates like a company, where its members have limited liability in the running of the business.

3. The controversial section 839 which gives power to the CAC, to interfere with the management of an NGO where there is allegation of mismanagement of funds and maladministration.

As laudable as these developments are, there are fears.

1. NGO's are at the risk of manipulation. Once the NGO begin to publish their financial records, it exposes them to the government who has power to tax their income and may manipulate petitions against them to give power to the commission (CAC) to take over the assets of such NGO.

2. CAC is a federal government agency and such can be manipulated to wrestle power and revenue from the state since the record of all business organization is transparent before the government.

The *WATER RESOURCES BILL* is another regulation which is not new in developed countries. This is to safeguard water resources and make it available and accessible to every citizen of the country. It also seek to protect the water resources and regulate its usage.

It states that permission ought to be got from the Federal Government before one can engage in any commercial activity over these water resources via issuance of license.

The Federal Government will own all the water bodies and this means all revenue relating and coming from any activity around the riverine areas will now be under the control of the Federal Government.

*THE POLICE REFORM BILLS* on its own has not raised any issue of concern. That only ensures the professional discharge of the duties of the Nigerian police ensuring international standard and best practices.

*CONCLUSION*
All these can be managed on a state level and Federal ought only to exercise regulatory authority over the function. Instead it's taking over the function allocating excessive powers for itself.

It is noteworthy that over recent times, the Federal government has taken over key sectors in the country by planting only members of a particular tribe whom he knows will be loyalist to the Northern agenda. This raise serious fear and concern on its intention behind these laws.