Senators in closed door session over PIB, Grazing Bill,Ranches Commission

*** As Gemade acts as Chief Whip todayBy Henry UmoruABUJA – AT resumed plenarytoday, Senators immediately went into closed door session, where they would brainstorm on the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and the establishment of grazing areas management agency bill.Senators went into the executive session at 10.25am.In today’s Order Paper, one ofthe bills slated for consideration is “A Bill for an Act to provide for the Governance and Institutional Framework for the Petroleum Industry and for other related matters, 2016(SB.237) scheduled to scale the second reading.The bill is sponsored by the Chairman, senate Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, Senator Omotayo Alaosaodura, APC, Ondo Central.The other controversial bill contained in the Order Paper which has necessitated the Executive session is ” A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of grazing Areas Management Agency and for other related matters sponsored by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, APC, Kano Central.There is another bill to be discussed as contained in theorder paper and it is ‘ A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of National Ranches Commission for the regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches and for connected purposes sponsored by Senator Barnabas Gemade, APC, Benue North East.Another bill titled, ” A Bill for an Act to control the Keeping and Movement of Cattle in Nigeria and for related matters sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North is contained in the Order Paper for discussions.Meanwhile, the Senate President Bukola Saraki asked Senator Barnabas Gemade, APC, Benue North East to act as the Chief Whip for today’s plenary.Details later