Buhari refuses to assent bill establishing Federal University Wukari

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the Federal University Wukari Establishment Bill, 2017 which were sent to him by the National Assembly for assent. He also reported reportedly reject assent to the the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management Establishment Bill, 2017.

In separate letters dated November 18, 2017 and addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, President Buhari withheld assent to the two bills, saying he took the decision because of certain words and phrases used in the documents. His letters were read one after the other to the senators at plenary by the Senate President.

One of the letters, titled, “Withholding of assent to the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 217″ read:

“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 the 25th of October, 2017 to withhold assent to the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management Establishment etc.) Bill, 2017.

“The rationale for withholding assent is regarding the scope of, and phrases utilized in the Bill.For instance, 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 manager in banks, and the relationship between the proposed institute and other existing professional institutes that regulate treasury managers in Nigeria.’’

In the letter, Withholding of assent to the Federal University Wukari (Establishment etc.) Bill, 2017, the President explained: “The rationale for withholding assent is regarding the scope of, and phrases utilized in, the Bill”.

“The word “Statute” should replace regulation throughout the bill for consistency. “Paragraph 9 (1) of the 1st schedule should refer to ‘the president’ and not ‘the visitor’ and paragraph 5 of the 3rd Schedule should refer to sub-paragraph (2) and not sub-paragraph (3).”

“Please accept senate president assurances of my highest consideration,” the President concluded.

Meanwhile, President Buhari forwarded fresh separate letters on three new bills for the consideration and passage into laws by the Senate.

They are the ones on the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2017; Federal Institute for Industrial Research Bill, 2017 and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill, 2017 respectively.