Reps prohibit sales, export of donkeys

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, adopted the report on the Bill which seeks to prohibit the killing and exportation of donkeys from Nigeria.

The bill for “an Act to prohibit the killing and exportation of Donkeys or its carcasses or derivatives out of Nigeria given their depletion in numbers; the threat of extinction, and other aesthetic, ecological, historical, recreational and scientific values to the Nigerian nation and its people in order to preserve them for use particularly in transportation,” was sponsored by Honourable Mohammed Monguno.

While giving the synopsis of the report, Honourable Monguno explained that the bill seeks to protect donkeys from extinction as they are killed and their skins and internal organs massively exported to China.

According to him, the role of donkeys, especially in rural Nigeria, cannot be overemphasized, hence there is the need to protect the species and ensure stiff penalties to those that engage in the illegal killing of the animals.

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After dissolving to Committee of the Whole, the lawmakers adopted Clauses 1 to 7 of the report.

In line with legislative practice, the bill is expected to be slated for Third Reading at the next legislative day.

Also at plenary, the House passed three bills through Third Reading.

They are. Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act, Cap. N118, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact Nigerian Law Reform Commission Bill, 2019 which seeks to facilitate the effective implementation of the Commission’s Law Reform proposals and enhance its performance; a bill for an Act to establish the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management for the promotion, study and practice of proper management of the treasury as safeguards against fraud, embezzlement, emasculation, misappropriation or misapplication of resources placed in the custody of Fund Managers as well as a bill for an Act to establish the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Agency to Institute the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme and Provide Comprehensive, quality and affordable health care service for all residents of the FCT.