President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to five bills passed by the National Assembly.
The affected bills according to the President included the Maritime security Operation Coordination Board (amendment) bill 2018; the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (amendment) bill 2018 and Bankruptcy and Insolvency bill, 2018.
Others bills which President Buhari refused to sign were the Federal Polytechnic (amendment) bill 2018 and the Energy Commission (amendment) bill, 2018.
On Maritime Security Coordination Board bill, President Buhari said that he declined assent because the proposed amendment will create distortions and duplications with the functions and operations of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
On the RMAFC bill, the President said that the proposed amendment bill will interfere with and obstruct the smooth administration of revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government.
On the bankruptcy and insolvency proposed bill, President said that he declined assent due to drafting issues that affected that clarity and understanding of the bill and may impair the effective operation of the bill.
On the Polytechnic amendment bill, the President said that Section 16(1)(2) of the amendment bill, which subjects the removal of the Governing Council members and Rector of Polytechnics to the approval of the Federal Executive Council as a body, instead of the President’s approval as is obtained in the Principal Act, will make the removal process more administratively cumbersome.
On the Energy Commission, President Buhari said that he declined assent because the proposed Section 8 of the bill for the Energy Commission to receive and annual subvention of not less than 0.5% from the Federation Account is unconstitutional.
He said that the proposal negates the clear provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 with regard to appropriation and disbursement from the Federation Account.