By Our Reporter
Two Bills forwarded to President Muhanmmadu Buhari for assent have been rejected by the president who also asked the lawmakers to rework them based on his observations if they want them signed into law.
The president communicated his decision not to sign the bills into law in two separate letters which Senate President, Bukola Saraki read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.
The two bills include the University of Wukari establishment bill, 2017 and Chartered Institute of Treasury Management establishment bill 2017.
Buhari explained that he chose not to sign the bills because of “certain words and phrases” used in the bills.
The president’s letter read: “Pursuant to section 58 (4) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999. I hereby convey to the senate my decision on the 25th of October, 2017 to withhold assent to the University of Wukari establishment bill 2017.
“The rationale for withholding assent is regarding certain words and phrases utilised in the bill.
“For instance statutes should replace regulation throughout the bill for consistently. Paragraph 9 (1) of the first schedule should refer to the president and not the visitor and paragraph 5 of the first schedule should refer to sub-paragraph 2 and not sub-paragraph 3.
“The phrase treasury management is not defined in the bill, greater clarity maybe required regarding the impact of the bill of the central bank’s regulation of treasury managers in banks and the relationship between the professional institutes and other existing professional institutes that regulate treasury managers in Nigeria.
“Please accept senate president assurances of my highest consideration.”