Buhari rejects 2 NASS bills as Senate postpones 2018 budget debate

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has withheld assent to the Federal University of Wukari Establishment Bill, 2017 and Chartered Institute of Treasury Management Establishment Bill.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, made this known while reading letters to that effect at plenary on Tuesday.

This was as the Senate announced the postponement of debate on the 2018 Appropriation Bill to November 28 and 29.

The upper chamber had fixed today for the debate.

Saraki, who announced the shift of the debate on Tuesday, said it was to enable the chamber to pass the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

“We are hoping that the MTEF will be laid tomorrow (Wednesday) and to be passed this week.

“Secondly, the distribution of documents, I hope you have all received documents accompanying the 2018 budget, the revenue and expenditure budgets of the Federal Government of Nigeria bond, enterprise and agencies.

“The consolidated 2016 budget implementation report for first quarter 2017, and second quarter 2017 and also budget volumes I and II should be received today and the joint sitting, votes, and proceedings also should be received today.

“This is a departure from the past. We intend that on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, next week, to debate the budget.

“We want to allocate Tuesday and Wednesday to debate on the budget and specifically allocate Thursday for the debate on revenue and expenditure budget of Federal Government of Nigeria bond and enterprise and agencies,” Saraki said.

Speaking on the bills, Saraki said both letters were dated November 8, 2017, and the one containing withholding of assent to the Federal University of Wukari Bill indicated that it was not assented to because of use of certain words.

“The word ‘Statute’ should replace ‘Regulation’ throughout the Bill for consistency.

“Paragraph 9(1) of the First Schedule should refer to ‘the President’ and not ‘the visitor’.

“Paragraph five of the Third Schedule should refer to sub-paragraph (2) and not sub-paragraph (3),” the letter stated.

On the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management Bill, the letter indicated that assent was withheld due to the scope and phrases used.

According to it, the phrase “treasury management,” was not defined in the Bill.

“Greater clarity may be required regarding the impact of the Bill on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulation of treasury managers in banks.

“And also, the relationship between the proposed institute and other existing professional institutes that regulate treasury managers in Nigeria,” the letter stated.

Meanwhile, three Executive Bills were sent to the Senate for consideration.

The request for the consideration of the bills was contained in letters dated October 31, 2017.

The Bills are Federal Institute for Industrial Research Bill, 2017; Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency Establishment Bill, 2017 and Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Repeal and Re-Enactment Bill, 2017.

Buhari urged the Senate to expeditiously consider and pass the bills.