President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), passed by the National Assembly. Buhari also declined assent to the Institute of Chartered Biochemist and Molecular Biologist bill 2019.
The President’s decision to decline assent to the two bills were contained in two separate letters read by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Thursday.
Buhari said the funding provisions for the Nigeria Maritime University bill were grossly excessive.
“Pursuant to section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I hereby convey to the Senate my decision on 25th May 2019 to decline Presidential assent to the Nigeria Maritime University Establishment Bill 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly.
“I am declining my assent to the bill because the funding provisions are grossly excessive and will disrupt the operation of a number of government agencies and institutions,” the President said in his letter.
On why he rejected the Institute of Chartered Biochemist and Molecular Biologist bill 2019, the President said, “There is already an existing Chartered Institute of Biochemist of Nigeria established pursuant to CAP 1(12) laws of the Federation of Nigeria which has a similar mandate and function to the proposed Institute of Chartered Biochemist and Molecular Biologist
“Section 11 a and g and sections 12 and 13 (1, 2 and 3) conflict with mandate and functions of the National Universities Commission (NUC).”