A bill seeking to amend portions of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (2017) has passed its first reading in the state House of Assembly.
Daily Trust reported that state government is seeking a stiffer punishment for offenders of the law through the amendment of the bill.
Speaker of the Assembly, Titus Uba, at the commencement of sitting on Thursday January 6, informed the house of the letter from the Attorney General, Barrister Mike Gusa, seeking the amendment to strengthen the law with a stiffer penalty for violators in order to deter others.
Majority Leader of the House, Damian Cheme, presented the bill for deliberation on behalf of the executive while the Clerk read the bill for the first time and thereafter committed it to the Business and Ethics Committee.
Members of the committee were asked to look at the law with a view to ensure that penalty serves as a deterrent to future violators.
Uba noted that the initial penalty was now being abused by most of the herders who flagrantly violate the law on account that they can pay the fines and secure their cows with ease.
