Tinubu declines assent to two bills passed by the National Assembly

…Says There Are “Fundamental Defects” and Inconsistencies with Financial and Constitutional Provisions

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has declined assent to 2 bills precocious passed by the National Assembly, citing cardinal defects and inconsistencies with existing fiscal and law provisions.

In a missive dated July 30, 2025, and addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio — work during Tuesday’s plenary — President Tinubu explained that helium could not motion the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (Establishment) Bill, 2025, and the National Assembly Library Fund Bill into instrumentality owed to problematic clauses and fiscal implications.

For the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Bill, the President said respective provisions conflicted with extant laws and posed risks of fiscal mismanagement.

“Under Section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the Senate my determination to diminution assent to the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (Establishment) Bill, 2025,” the President stated.

He noted that Section 18(4a) of the projected instrumentality sought to grow the institute’s backing to see 1 percent of each import and export levies from Nigeria — a proviso inserted without support from the Federal Executive Council. Tinubu warned that specified duplication of backing sources would make “an unnecessary fiscal burden” connected the system.

The President besides faulted Section 21(2), which authorizes the institute to get funds oregon get overdrafts without statesmanlike consent for amounts beneath ₦50 million. He said this could promote maltreatment done repeated borrowing to bypass enforcement approval.

“In existing Acts, borrowing tin lone beryllium done with statesmanlike consent. The removal of this request has not been explained oregon justified,” helium said, describing the clause arsenic 1 that “could pb to superior fiscal abuse.”

Tinubu further observed contradictions successful Sections 23 and 24(5) concerning the absorption and concern of the institute’s funds, noting that portion the measure specifies national funding, it besides allows concern of surplus funds — inconsistent with nationalist concern principles.

He added that Section 18(2) of the measure further muddles the institute’s fiscal operations by allowing concern of funds contrary to its stated intent of promoting the institute’s objectives.

“For these reasons, I cannot motion the measure into instrumentality and hereby instrumentality it to the National Assembly for reconsideration,” Tinubu stated, closing with ceremonial regards to the Senate President and members.

In a abstracted correspondence, the President besides declined assent to the National Assembly Library Fund Bill, explaining that its backing provisions would acceptable unsustainable fiscal precedents.

Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the President for his elaborate observations, assuring that applicable committees of the National Assembly would reappraisal the bills and code the identified concerns.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has signed into instrumentality 2 different bills — the Nigeria Police Force Training Institute (Establishment) Bill and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill.

The station Tinubu declines assent to 2 bills passed by the National Assembly appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.