Buhari withholds assent to 2 Bills

By Ezrel Tabiowo

Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in a letter to the Senate, informed the upper chamber of his decision to withhold assent to two Bills sent to him for signing into law.
The rejected Bills are Chartered Institute of Treasury Management and the Federal University of Wukari, Taraba state.
It would be recalled that, in February this year, while acting as President when Buhari was abroad on medical treatment, Prof Yemi Osinbajo had similarly withheld assent to four bills.
The bills were Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016, National Lottery (Amendment) Bill 2016, Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (Amendment) Bill 2016, and the Currency Conversion (Freezing Orders) (Amendment) Bill 2016.
The president’s rejection was contained in separate letters on 8th of November, 2017 and read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
According to Buhari, he withheld assent to the bills due to certain words and phrases used, deemed not appropriate and “pursuant to Section 58(4) of the Constitution”.
Buhari’s letter on the bill seeking establishment of Chartered Institute of Treasury Management reads: “Pursuant to section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the Senate, my decision, on 25th October, 2017 to wit hold Assent to the Federal University of Wukari (Establishment, Etc) Bill, 2017.
“The rational for withholding assent are regarding certain words and phrases utilised in the Bill.
“The phrase ‘treasury management’ is not defined in the bill and, greater clarity may be required regarding the impact of the Bill on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulation of treasury managers in banks, and the relationship between the proposed institute and other existing professional institutes that regulate treasury managers in Nigeria.
“Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Also the letter on the Federal University of Wukari in Taraba reads:
“Pursuant to section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the Senate, my decision, on 25th October, 2017 to withhold Assent to the Federal University of Wukari (Establishment, Etc) Bill, 2017.
“The rational for withholding assent are regarding certain words and phrases utilised in the Bill.
“The word ‘Statute’ should replace ‘Regulation’ through-out the bill for consistency;
“Paragraph 9(1) of the 1st Schedule should refer to ‘the President’ and not ‘the Visitor’.
“Paragraph 5 of the 3rd Schedule should refer to subparagraph (2) and not sub-paragraph (3).”
However, the President has asked for the amendment of the law establishing the Raw Material Research Council and the enactment of a law for the establishment of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), respectively.

 

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