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Tinubu axes two N’Assembly bills over policy clash

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President Bola Tinubu has withheld assent to two recently passed bills from the National Assembly, warning that certain provisions could weaken fiscal discipline, conflict with existing laws, and create dangerous precedents in public finance management.

This was disclosed in the President’s letters read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at Tuesday’s plenary.

The rejected bills are the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (Establishment) Bill, 2025; and the National Library Trust Fund (Establishment, etc.) Amendment Bill, 2025.

While acknowledging their broad objectives, Tinubu said several clauses were inconsistent with federal fiscal and administrative principles.

On the Transport Technology Bill, the President faulted provisions introducing new levies, unregulated borrowing, and investment of public funds in securities, moves he said could create opaque revenue channels and open avenues for misuse.

He particularly cited Section 18(4a), which proposed that the institute be funded through “one per cent of the freight on every import and export,” warning that the levy, introduced without Federal Executive Council approval, would overburden trade and sidestep the national budgetary process.

Tinubu also objected to Section 20, which empowered the institute to borrow up to N50m without presidential consent, describing it as “a loophole that could enable repeated borrowing below the threshold to evade oversight.”

Sections 21 and 23, which allowed the institute to invest government-appropriated funds, were equally criticised as “fiscally dangerous.”

“These provisions, if allowed, would not only undermine fiscal discipline but also create opportunities for financial abuse.”

For these reasons, I withhold my assent to the bill,” Tinubu wrote.

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In a separate letter rejecting the National Library Trust Fund Amendment Bill, the President said that though the bill’s intentions were laudable, several sections clashed with existing federal laws and policy frameworks.

He cited provisions on agency funding, taxation of national entities, staff remuneration, and tenure or age limits as potentially “unsustainable and against the public interest.”

“For these reasons, I cannot grant presidential assent to the bill in its present form. I urge the Senate to revisit and address the identified issues,” the letter read.

After reading both correspondences, Akpabio commended Tinubu’s “diligence in reviewing every legislation” and directed relevant committees to rework the affected bills for further legislative action.”

“This demonstrates the seriousness with which Mr. President is reviewing every legislation we pass. It is now our responsibility to carefully address the issues he has raised,” Akpabio said.

The Senate subsequently referred the Transport Technology Bill to the Committee of the Whole and the Library Trust Fund Amendment Bill to the Committees on Special Duties and Establishment and Public Service Matters for further scrutiny.

The withholding of assent to the proposed legislations signalled yet another instance of the executive’s closer scrutiny of legislative outputs under the current dispensation.

The rejection underscores Tinubu’s insistence on tightening fiscal control and aligning legislative proposals with broader economic reform priorities under his Renewed Hope administration.

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PHOTOS: Police demote officer for unauthorised VIP escort duty

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The Nigeria Police Force has demoted a corporal to the rank of constable for engaging in unauthorised VIP escort duties, in violation of directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the force disclosed that CPL Suleiman Musa (F/No: 517077), attached to 45 PMF, was found escorting a VIP without the required clearance. His action was deemed a breach of the strict enforcement measures put in place to end the indiscriminate deployment of police personnel for such assignments.

According to the statement, the disciplinary action serves as a warning to other officers and reinforces the need for full compliance with operational guidelines.

The force also noted that the incident raises questions about how the unauthorised assignment came about and whether the officer acted alone.

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PHOTOS: Father, son, three others d!e in Kano well collapse and fire incident

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Tragedy struck across three local government areas of Kano State as five people, including a 10-year-old girl, lost their lives in separate incidents involving a well collapse, a fall into a well, and a house fire.

The spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed the incidents in a statement issued on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

The first incident occurred in Badume Kanawa Village, Bichi Local Government Area, where three people d!ed while attempting to re-dig a well.

According to Abdullahi, the rope supporting one of the victims, identified as Sa’idu Gada, 65, snapped while he was working inside the well.

In a desperate attempt to save him, his son, Sani Isyaku, 20, entered the well but also became trapped. A third man, Yakubu Abdullahi, 60, followed with the hope of rescuing both, but he too was unable to make it out.

Fire Service personnel rescued the trio in an unconscious state, but they were later confirmed d3ad.

Their remains were handed over to DSP Kabiru Iliyasu of the Badume Police Division.

In another incident in Danbatta Local Government Area, a 10-year-old boy, Hassan Iliyasu Haruna, fell into a well and d!ed before help could reach him.

The third tragedy occurred in Badawa Layin Day in Nassarawa Local Government Area, where a 10-year-old girl d!ed in a house fire on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Fire Service officials said the blaze engulfed a section of a residential building, destroying two bedrooms. The girl was rescued unconscious but was later confirmed d3ad.

Speaking on the incidents, the Director of the Fire Service, Sani Anas, urged residents to avoid entering wells during emergencies, warning that such actions often result in additional casualties rather than successful rescues.

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He advised the public to immediately call emergency responders when accidents occur, stressing that trained personnel are better equipped to handle such situations safely.

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PHOTOS: Troops rescue 14 kidnapped victims in Benue forest

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Nigerian Army troops of Joint Task Force Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims during a coordinated operation at Orokam Forest, a border area linking Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The operation was conducted on Friday at about 1:30 p.m., following credible intelligence from locals indicating the presence of a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in the forest.

Troops deployed in Udenu LGA swiftly mobilised to the location alongside vigilante personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch.

While approaching the hideout, the criminals opened fire on the troops. The joint team responded with a high volume of fire, forcing the kidnappers to flee in disarray and abandon the kidnapped victims.

14 abducted persons, who were returning from a burial ceremony over the weekend before being kidnapped, were rescued unhurt.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted from two separate communities Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA, Enugu State, and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue State.

The victims were subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Udenu Division, for onward reunification with their families.

The troops expended 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the engagement and returned to base at about 7:21 p.m. without any incident.

Troops had intensified monitoring of the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

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