THE House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources has called for a review of the Federal Government’s water policy in order to develop a sound and workable water supply arrangement with the states and local governments.

The Chairman House Committee on  Water Resources, Honourable Aliyu Ahman- Pategi who stated this during budget defence of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Basins, agencies and commissions under the Ministry said it was time for the Federal Government to review its water policy.

The committee equally noted that the twelve River Basins in the country needed to be fully empowered so that they can be able to generate sufficient funds  to meet their recurrent expenditure and in future apply the surplus funds to cater for some of their capital projects.

The committee said dam assets owed by the Federal Government should not be concessioned for private organisations  without comprehensive agreement on operations, maintenance, management and proper pricing mechanism for raw water.

Honourable Ahman-Pategi also advised  the Federal Executive Council  to look at how contracts are awarded in the water sector so that funds are made available before being brought forward as he decried a situation where contracts are awarded without proper capital outlay and consideration for potential funding profile.