President Bola Tinubu has withheld assent to two bills recently passed by the National Assembly, citing fundamental defects and inconsistencies with existing financial and constitutional provisions.
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In a letter dated July 30, 2025, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during plenary on Tuesday, President Tinubu explained that he could not sign the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (Establishment) Bill, 2025 and the National Assembly Library Fund Bill into law due to provisions that conflict with existing legislation and could create opportunities for financial abuse.
Regarding the Transport Technology Bill, the President highlighted that Section 18(4a) sought to expand the institute’s funding sources to include one percent of all import and export levies from Nigeria a measure inserted without Federal Executive Council approval. He described this as “a duplication of revenue sources and unnecessary financial burden.”
President Tinubu also faulted Section 21(2), which permits the institute to borrow funds or obtain overdrafts without presidential consent for amounts below ₦50 million, warning that such a clause could be repeatedly exploited to circumvent oversight. He further noted that Sections 23 and 24(5) contained contradictory provisions on fund management and investment, potentially undermining public finance principles.
On the National Assembly Library Fund, Tinubu said the bill’s provisions for funding could set unsustainable precedents.
In his letters, the President formally returned both bills to the National Assembly for reconsideration, emphasizing the need for alignment with financial and constitutional regulations.
Responding to the letters, Senate President Akpabio commended President Tinubu’s observations, assuring that relevant committees would review the bills to address the areas of concern.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has signed into law two other measures: the Nigeria Police Force Training Institute Establishment Bill and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Establishment Bill.
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