President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withheld assent to two bills recently passed by the National Assembly, citing provisions that he described as inconsistent with federal policy, financially risky, and potentially harmful to good governance.
Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, read the President’s letters to lawmakers on Tuesday at the resumption of plenary.
Read also: No State is borrowing to pay salaries under Tinubu’s administration – Akpabio
The first bill declined by the President is the proposed law establishing the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT).
While acknowledging its good intentions, Tinubu said the legislation contained several provisions that posed serious fiscal and governance challenges.
The bill empowered the institute to collect 1% of all import and export freight levies, a provision he described as “onerous and unfair to businesses” and inconsistent with the Federal Government’s tax policy.
It authorized the institute to borrow up to ₦50million without presidential approval, which he warned could open the door to “serious financial abuse.”
It also gave the institute power to invest funds, even though the agency is not revenue-generating by design.
Tinubu stressed that such clauses violated the government’s fiscal discipline framework and would set a dangerous precedent if allowed.
The President also rejected the National Library Trust Fund Establishment (Amendment) Bill 2025, citing conflicts with existing laws and policies.
According to him, the bill contained provisions that contradicted central government policy on the funding of public agencies, Taxation of national entities, Public service remuneration, and age and tenure of public servants.
He argued that enacting the bill in its present form would “create an unsustainable precedent against the public interest.”
In both letters, Tinubu urged the Senate to review the identified issues and make necessary corrections.
Read also: Nigeria’s faulty education system, others fuel youth unemployment— NESG
“I hope that the Senate will take necessary steps to fix the identified issues with this legislation,” he wrote.
In his response, Akpabio thanked the President for carefully scrutinizing the bills, noting that the concerns raised were valid and would be addressed by the relevant committees.
“This is a demonstration of the President’s steady hands and attention to detail.
“It now falls on us to re-examine the bills and ensure they are in line with national policy and fiscal responsibility,” Akpabio told his colleagues.
The two bills were subsequently referred to Senate committees for further legislative action.
