President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withheld assent to the proposed amendment of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2025, citing serious constitutional, fiscal, and policy-related issues.
The President communicated his decision in a formal letter to the House of Representatives yesterday.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen read the letter during plenary, revealing that Tinubu declined to endorse the bill which aimed to convert the existing library trust into a full-fledged National Assembly Resource Centre.
Despite acknowledging the bill’s positive intentions, Tinubu expressed strong objections to several clauses.
According to him, “While the bill pursues commendable objectives, some of its provisions are inconsistent with established laws and policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Key areas of concern identified by the President include the proposed funding framework for National Assembly-affiliated institutions, provisions suggesting taxation on federal agencies, clauses concerning civil service remuneration, and stipulations on retirement age and tenure.
He warned that enacting the bill without necessary adjustments could “set an unsustainable precedent” with far-reaching consequences for the governance structure and national interest.
While the letter refrained from specifying the most problematic provisions, Tinubu emphasised that the bill in its current form poses both legal and fiscal challenges.
“I trust the House of Representatives will take appropriate steps to resolve the issues identified in this legislation,” he added.
The legislation now returns to the National Assembly for reconsideration, potential revision, or possibly a veto override, depending on future deliberations.