SAN FRANCISCO, February 22, (THEWILL) – The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has refused to assent four bills forwarded to the Executive arm of government by the National Assembly to be signed into law.
The bills are: Dangerous Drug Amendment Bill, 2016; National Lottery Bill, 2016; Currency Conversion Freezing Order Amendment Bill, 2016, and Agricultural Credit Scheme Bill, 2016.
Osinbajo conveyed his decision to decline the bills in a letter read on the floor of the Senate by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday.
The Acting President explained that his refusal to assent to some of the bills was due to “concerns regarding words and phrases, and the spirit behind the amendment”, and due to “the existence of pending legal issue”.
Speaking on the Acting President’s withholding of assent to the bills, the Senator representing Kogi west, Dino Melaye said the executive must respect the principle of separation of powers.
He said it was the responsibility of the executive to assent to bills made by the legislature or go to court to challenge them.
The Senate President however said the matter would be referred to the legal department of the National Assembly for advice and interpretation.
