President Bola Tinubu has withheld his assent to two bills recently passed by the National Assembly, citing major concerns over their fiscal implications, legal inconsistencies, and potential conflicts with federal policies.
The bills in question are the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Repeal and Reenactment Bill and the National Library Trust Fund Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Tinubu raised several issues with the NITT bill, including a clause allowing the institute to collect one per cent of all import and export freight charges, which he described as “onerous and unfair to businesses” and contradictory to the Federal Government’s current tax policy framework.
He also objected to the institute’s power to borrow up to 50 million naira without presidential approval and its authority to invest its funds, warning that these provisions could lead to financial abuse and undermine fiscal discipline.
The President urged the National Assembly to revisit and revise the problematic provisions in both bills to ensure alignment with existing laws and government priorities.
