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Tinubu axes two N’Assembly bills over policy clash

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7 months ago

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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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ICE detains Nigerian man in Los Angeles, begins deportation process

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1 hour ago

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April 25, 2026

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Olatunde Abiodun Olusanjo, a 53-year-old Nigerian, has been arrested in Los Angeles by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, as part of ongoing deportation proceedings.

According to ICE, Olusanjo was arrested on April 21, 2026, by its Enforcement and Removal Operations, ERO, unit and is currently being held pending further immigration action.

Authorities disclosed that his arrest is linked to previous criminal charges, including child molestation, sexual battery and solicitation of lewd conduct.

The agency noted that these allegations played a significant role in the decision to detain him.

ICE stated that Olusanjo had earlier encountered legal issues in the United States, with his criminal history contributing to the move to place him in custody and initiate removal proceedings.

The agency reiterated that its Enforcement and Removal Operations prioritises individuals with criminal records as part of its mandate to enhance public safety and enforce immigration laws.

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Tinubu borrowing billions to invest in Nigeria’s infrastructure – Presidency replies Emir Sanusi

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April 25, 2026

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Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said the current government has borrowed billions of dollars to invest in Nigeria’s infrastructure.

Bwala made the remark in response to a comment by the Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi, saying that Nigeria invests between $30 billion and $100 billion every year to fix its infrastructure problems.

Posting on X, Bwala wrote: “Your Royal Highness, we are simply borrowing to invest in the most important areas of our economy, with infrastructure being the most crucial of them all.

“The lack of proper infrastructure needs at least $30 billion to $100 billion every year, but what we’re currently spending is not enough, so we have to borrow money.”

Sanusi had raised concerns about the Tinubu government still relying on borrowing even after removing the fuel subsidy, calling the situation financially inconsistent.

The Emir said that even though the subsidy system isn’t working in the long run, the benefits people were expecting from getting rid of it haven’t actually made them borrow less money.

He mentioned that Nigeria can no longer justify supporting foreign refineries as an oil-producing country.

The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also said that recent progress in domestic refining and exports is good for the economy.

The monarch also criticized the government’s way of managing money, stating that the savings from cutting subsidies should lead to less borrowing and clear signs of economic improvement.

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PHOTOS: ‘Our roads no more motorable’ – Ogbomoso residents appeal to Makinde, others

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2 hours ago

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April 25, 2026

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Residents of Orisunmibare Pakiotan in Ogbomoso North local government area, Oyo State, have declared that the roads linking the community with other parts of the town are no more motorable.

The residents appealed to the State government under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde, the local government Chairman and other concerned authorities to come to their aid.

It was  reports that the community is located behind Ayanyan Cattle market and Ogbomoso Government Reserved Area along the new Ogbomoso/ Ilorin Expressway.

The residents lamented that the roads had become an eyesore.

A community leader, Dr Tobi Fajobi called on the State and local governments to come to their rescue.

Fajobi, who spoke on behalf of other members of the community on Friday, regretted that all the roads within the community were no more motorable.

He said, “We call on both the state and Ogbomoso North local governments to come to our aid in fixing this road and bridge.

“It is a new community with a large population and houses. The road is highly dilapidated, hence hindering free flow of traffic.

“Ideally, we should spend just 2-4 minutes to the junction, but due to the poor state of the road, we spend more than 15 minutes.

“The alternative routes are not also reliable as they’re not in good conditions apart from being too long to ply. We, therefore, appeal to them to assist us by urgently intervening.

“Since the state government’s contractors are presently doing good jobs in Ogbomoso, rehabilitating and constructing new roads and bridges, our plight should be considered”.

See also  CNG price hits N450/SCM as FG withdraws subsidies

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