Buhari declines assent to transport commission, roads authority bills

President Muhammadu Buhari has declined to sign two bills into law.

They are the National Transport Commission Bill 2018 and Federal Roads Authority Bill 2018.

The president’s decision to refuse assent to the bills were contained in a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

On the transport commission bill, Buhari explained that some sections of the proposed legislation fall within the purview of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

“Pursant to section 58 (4) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby convey to the senate my decision on the 12th December 2018 to decline assent to the National Transport Commission Bill 2018,” he said.

“I am declining assent to the bill because one, safety regulations enshrined in some sections of the bill which are textile in nature, falls within the purview of sector legislation implemented like agencies like NIMASA and therefore should be expunged from the bill.

“The percentage of the amount to be retained by the agency is collected under section 9 (2) (d) should be reduced from 10 to 5 percent. Section 12 (9) stipulates that a portion of the proceeds from the royalties collected from the authority to collect royalties from transport service providers should not exceed 10 percent of what is collected by service providers and concessionaires.

“Section 19 (2) (f) which stipulates charge of three percent freight tariff stabilisation fee on all import too and export from Nigeria including wet and dry cargo should be amended and reduced from three percent to one percent as what is contained in the Nigeria Shippers Council legislation.”

In another letter, Buhari said he refused to sign the roads authority bill because it would make the “supervising ministry redundant”.

“Pursuant to section 58 (4) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby convey to the senate my decision on 12th December 2018 to decline presidential assent to Federal Roads Authority establishment bill 2018. I am declining assent to the bill due to the following reasons below,” the president said.

“The establishment of the road sector regulator as a separate and distinctive body in part six of the bill is capable of rendering the entire technical workforce of the supervising ministry redundant.

“The supervisory power of the ministry over the road sector as the road sector regulator will leave the ministry without the power exercise its supervisory role.

“The ministry will have no desirable role to play in the road sector in the road sector having regards to the fact that management of roads vested in the roads sector such as supervisory powers would be exercised by it leaving out the ministry without any clear statutory function.”

The president also sent a draft bill on the National Tobacco Regulations for the consideration and passage by the national assembly.