UPDATED: Tinubu declines assent to Federal University of Education in Adamawa

President Bola Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives on withheld assent to the Federal University of Education Numan, Adamawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2024.

The President’s letter addressed to the House of Representatives was read on Tuesday at the resumption of the Plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu who presided 

The National Assembly passed the bill sponsored by Senator Binos Yaroe, representing Adamawa South Senatorial District, in 2024 and subsequently transmitted it to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

In the letter, President Tinubu raised concerns over Section 22 of the bill, which grants the Adamawa State Governor the authority to dispose of land belonging to a federal institution. 

The President emphasised that matters concerning Federal Government-owned properties, particularly federal universities, fall under his jurisdiction.

The  President referenced Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to formally communicate his decision, taken on December 23, 2024, to withhold approval for the bill recently passed by the National Assembly.

According to him, “I am declining assent to the bill as Section 22 confers authority over the disposal of the university’s land on the state governor, rather than the President, as should be the case for land belonging to the federal government”.

At a stakeholders’ forum held last week in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Senator Yaroe clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not reject the proposed bill but only highlighted clerical errors that needed correction.

According to the senator, the President’s observations were centered on ensuring the bill aligns with constitutional provisions.

“The President pointed out certain errors in the bill that required compliance with the constitution. For instance, we mistakenly assigned the authority to grant land to the governor instead of the President, who is the rightful visitor to the institution. We will rectify this by replacing ‘governor’ with ‘president’ in the bill,” he explained

After the Communication was read, the House adjourned the plenary til Wednesday in honour of the late Deputy Whip, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, who   on January 15 this year 

Hon Onanuga, aged 59  represented the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State. 

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