President Bola Tinubu has refused to sign two bills recently passed by the National Assembly, citing provisions he described as inconsistent with federal policy, fiscally risky and potentially harmful to good governance.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letters to lawmakers during yesterday’s plenary session as the Senate resumed its annual recess.
Responding to the President’s concerns, Akpabio thanked him for scrutinising the bills and acknowledged the need for further legislative refinement.
“This demonstrates the President’s steady hands and attention to detail. It now falls on us to re-examine the bills and ensure they align with national policy and fiscal responsibility,” Akpabio told his colleagues.
The bills were subsequently referred to relevant Senate committees for further legislative action.
The first bill the President rejected is the proposed law establishing the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT). While acknowledging its good intentions, Tinubu flagged several provisions in the bill as problematic.
Among the issues highlighted was the bill’s provision authorising the institute to collect 1% of all import and export freight levies—a measure the President described as “onerous and unfair to businesses” and incompatible with the federal government’s tax policy.
The legislation also allowed the institute to borrow up to ₦50 million without presidential approval and to invest public funds, even though the agency is not designed to generate revenue.
Tinubu warned that these clauses could lead to serious financial mismanagement and violate existing fiscal discipline frameworks.
“Such clauses pose serious fiscal and governance challenges and, if allowed, would set a dangerous precedent,” he stated.
The President also withheld assent to the National Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill 2025, citing conflicts with existing laws and policies.
According to Tinubu, the bill contradicted core government policies related to the funding of public agencies, taxation, public service remuneration, and age and tenure limits for public servants.
He stressed that enacting the bill in its current form would “create an unsustainable precedent against the public interest.”
In both letters, Tinubu urged the Senate to address the inconsistencies and revise the bills accordingly.
“I hope that the Senate will take the necessary steps to fix the identified issues with this legislation,” he wrote.
