President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Endangered Species Control of International Trade and Traffic Amendment Act 2016, passing it into law.
The Act provides for the conservation and management of Nigeria’s wild life and the protection of some of her endangered species in danger of extinction as a result of over‐exploitation, as required under certain international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.
This brings the number of Acts assented to by the President in 2016 to 17.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, told journalists at the State House that the Act was forwarded by the National Assembly to President Buhari, adding that with this he has completed work on all bills sent to him for assent.
“The intent of this amendment is to bring the penalty provisions in line with economic realities and to serve as a deterrent to people trafficking in endangered species because endangered species are the preserves of the country” he said.
According to Enang it Act is to discourage trafficking in endangered species and will encourage the culture of the preservation of endangered species. He added that with the assent, the President has increased the penalties for violations of the provisions in line with today’s realities.
In November the President assented to eight bills, including the Prevention of Crime Amendment Act 2016, the National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration) Amendment Act 2016, Telecommunications and Postal Offences Amendment Act 2016, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority Amendment Act 2016.
Others are the Produce Enforcement of Export Standards Amendment Act 2016, the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute Amendment Act 2016, Bee Import Control and Management Amendment Act 2016, and Water Resources Amendment Act 2016.
He also assented to another eight, earlier this month. They include the National Judicial Institute Amendment Act, 2016 and Advertising Practitioners Registration Amendment Act, 2016.
Others are Utilities Charges Commission Amendment Act, 2016, Quality Surveyors Registration Amendment Act, 2016 and Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency Amendment Act, 2016.
Others are Treaty to Establish African Economic Community Relating to Pan African Parliament (Accession and Jurisdiction) Amendment Act, 2016, University of Abuja Amendment Act, 2016 and Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers Amendment Act, 2016.
Meanwhile, there seem to be a growing camaraderie between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as they once again met behind closed doors, on Friday, the last working day of the year.
The Senate President who came to the Aso Rock at noon, also joined President Buhari to observe the Jumat at the Villa mosque, as has become their new friendly tradition.
Emerging from the mosque Saraki told journalists that in 2017 the National Assembly will be focusing more on the economy.
, “As we have started in 2016 in 2017 our attention will be on the economy because that is really a major issue for us as a country. We want to see some of the economic bills put forward passed, to see that there is greater improvement in the process of the budget process in 2017 and to see that the government implements the budget early.
“Also, one of our pet project is made in Nigeria products we want to see that government continue to support Nigerians in this area so that we can begin to see the cushion of the difficult times Nigerians are going through. So next year is very important to us and I think on the part of National Assembly we will continue to give our support to ensure that the right things are done”.
On the fall of Sambisa forest, the Senate President said, “is a great progress from where we are before. If you look at where we were a year and half ago, the challenges we had in that area for us to recapture the place, I think is a great feat. It shows what we can do as a country when we have the commitment, purpose and the leadership required to do that. As we have done that in the north east, I believe the other issue before us is the fight against corruption, the economy, providing jobs, peace in the Niger Delta”.
On the president signing 17 bills into law, the Senate President said, “it shows in part what we have been able to do in the National Assembly and there are many more bills to come and the President is also responding to it. You are going to see more of that in 2017, there are a lot of bills lined up. For us in the Senate for example, in the last session just this last three months we did much more than what we did in the entire year. The National Assembly is settling down and as such you will see much more bill passed for the President to sign.”
Elizabeth Archibong
