Nigerian Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday withheld assent to four Bills including the National Lottery Amendment Bill 2016, an action which triggered reactions in the senate.
Osinbajo, who last week signed seven bills, conveyed his position in a letter to the Senate, read on the floor by President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.
According to the Acting President, he declined to sign the Lottery Bill because of the existence of a pending legal challenge to the competence of the National Assembly to legislate on the subject matter.
The letter reads: “Pursuant to section 58(4) of the constitution, I hereby convey to the senate my decision to withhold assent to the National Lottery Amendment Bill 2016 recently passed by the National Assembly.
“The rationale for withholding assent to the Bill is the existence of a pending legal challenge to the competence of the National Assembly to legislate on the subject matter.
“Distinguished Senate President please, accept the assurances of my highest considerations”.
“Similarly, I withhold assent to Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill 2016.
“The rationale for withholding assent to the Bill are the concerns regarding certain words and phrases utilised in the draft Bill that may be inconsistent with the Principal Act. For example section 6 of the Bill with section 21 of the Principal Act and the spirit behind the proposed amendments.”
Others the Acting President said are the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund Amendment Bill 2016 saying the reasons for withholding assent to the Bill are the concerns surrounding board composition, proposals to increase level of un-collateralised loans from N5000 to N250, 000.
The fourth Bill which the Acting President withheld assent to was the Currency Conversion Freezing Orders Amendment Bill 2016.
“The rationale for withholding assent to the Bill is the concern regarding modalities for the communication of asset forfeiture orders,” he said.
In a swift reaction, Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) said that democracy was standing on the basic principle of Separation of Powers which stipulated the different functions of the three arms of government.
“The role of the executive is to carry out their fundamental objectives by signing anything that has being passed by this House.
“If withheld, it becomes so dangerous for our democracy and our powers to legislate will be taken away from us as enshrined in chapter four of the constitution.
“So the role of the executive is to assent to any law passed by this House. And anyone who has problem with it can go to court.
“May it not be a pathway for democracy if we keep quiet and allow the power of the legislature to be usurped by the noncompliance to the provisions of the constitution,” he said.
Also speaking, Sen. George Sekibo (PDP-Rivers) said that the National Assembly had power to override the veto of the President.
“The way the constitution is framed, they have their own roles to play, we have our own roles. We check each other.
“The matter is in the court and based on our rule we cannot discuss on it. If it is just that the President did not give assent, we have to look at the merits of the particular Bill if it meets the standard.
“And if the court matter is not going to impede on what we are going to do, then we can override the veto of the President,” he said.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki said that the Senate would refer the matter to its legal department for advice on the interpretations to some of the things.
“It is a matter that we must take seriously because it goes down to the issue of Separation of Powers.” (NAN)
Baby steps are gradually being taken in the self-fish crafted constitution capped on the selfless society/country called Nigeria. The mere fact that somebody who knows and understand the fundamentals of our law and the self-fish constitution is at the helms of affairs may the putting the rogues in the National Assembly and Senate in check. The Chambers are oblivious to the fact that their powers are derived from the constitution and the public who undoubtedly vested them into their hands.
Dino and Saraki’s greed clouded their minds to realize that the executive’s roll within the constitution is to ascertain that bills accented to meet the test of the law to accommodate all citizens irrespective of their class. The constitution has no class.
A day would come when all would be well for the governs to recognize and demand with ultimate precision their rights and obligations as entrenched in the constitution.
While the acting president has provided rationales for dissenting on these 4 bills (which is reasonable), the legislators seem not to consider that the executive decision lies with the president, moreso, these bills don’t fit in with the democratic agenda of the nation of today. Separation of power will still take account of national priorities, not self-serving bills to promote interest of the fewer privileged. A scenario to come should be to revisit existing and topical ‘concerns’ against individuals with political power, no matter how loosely presented or well founded it may be. Nigeria’s politicians continue to take the nation for a ‘ride’. We no longer wish to be led on the ‘garden path’ and any hint at ‘intimidation’ or ‘power-drunkenness’ will be subverted vigorously.. because, things are evolving in Nigeria, Nigerians are resuscitating Nigeria’s character and integrity. If you are complicit in any way relating to dubious, corrupt practice, with time, voluntary nationals will ‘dig deep’ to expose such conduct beyond doubt. No rest for the wicked oppressors. Ase pamo l’owa, Asegbe ko si mo….You can run but you can’t hide.
See those talking Separation of Power! Dino Melaye(Toy Boy) and his Boss Gambino Bukola Saraki( The Rice Merchant) in the abortive CCt Tribunal.
Power, Power, Power! that is all that concerns them. their interpretation of POWER is not the means to provide roads, jobs for the teeming masses, not making sure the poor pensioners get paid on time and in a befitting manner. No! That is not their clamour for power usurpation is about.
Their power defense is to make sure they have the means to stop any group that questions the source of their dubious ill gotten wealth.The Power not to be questioned where Dino got the money to buy the Maserati, Lamborghini Rovers and other exotic cars when he practically was sharking somewhere around Aso Rock during Obasanjo ERA.yes, let Dino contest it!
Why is Gambino Bukola saraki so shook up with Osin’s rejection of the 4bills? Simple, GBS just want to make sure that the POWER he used to FORCE THE FEDS to withdraw the FRAUD CHARGES against him that almost sent him to PRISON is not touched. That is why these unmentionables are raising brows about 4bills rejected while there are other burning national issues and Melaye will not be bothered. lord have mercy.