Buhari Rejects Police Procurement Fund Establishment Bill, 2 Others

President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to assent to the Police Procurement Fund Establishment Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly in 2017.

Buhari’s decision to decline assent to the bill bordered on clarity on whether the National Assembly could legislate on funds meant for the 36 states and the 774 local governments in the country.

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In a letter sent to the legislators, declining presidential assent, Buhari gave reasons for his decision as: “due to lack of clarity regarding the manner of disbursement of funds, as well as Constitutional issues regarding the powers of the National Assembly to appropriate funds allocated to the 36 state governments and 774 Local Governments, which conflict with Sections 80 – 82, and 120 – 122 of the 199 Constitution (as amended).”

The President also declined assent to two other bills, the Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria Bill, 2017, and the Nigerian Council of Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017.

According to the letter, Buhari declined to sign the Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria Bill “due to lack of clarity over the scope of the profession of ‘social work,’” and because the bill “prohibits all persons who are not members of the institute from practising.”

Buhari equally refused to assent to the bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Council of Social Work “due to the lack of clarity over the scope of the profession of social works, that this bill prohibits all persons who are not members of the institute from practising.

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The President’s letter was read to Senators by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over Tuesday’s plenary in the Senate and by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Yakubu Dogara, to the house members at the lower chamber.

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