President Bola Tinubu has refused to sign into law the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill 2025, citing a range of constitutional and policy challenges that, if ignored, could destabilize existing government structures and establish what he described as an “unsustainable precedent.”
The President communicated his decision through a formal letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which was read on the floor of the House by Rep. Tajudeen Abbas during plenary. In the letter, President Tinubu acknowledged the positive intentions behind the legislative proposal but pointed out that certain aspects of the bill are inconsistent with current federal laws and established policy frameworks.
While praising the amendment’s objectives as “laudable,” he made it clear that some clauses within the bill stand in opposition to well-established statutes and policy directions endorsed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The President specifically highlighted sections dealing with funding structures for agencies tied to the National Assembly, taxation implications for national entities, elements related to public service salary scales, and provisions that address age and tenure within public institutions. These, he argued, if enshrined into law, would create legal and administrative anomalies that would not be sustainable under current fiscal conditions.
According to him, the problematic provisions of the bill would not only impose undue pressure on the public treasury but also risk contravening long-standing governance practices in the federal system.
Though he did not expound on each point of contention, Tinubu emphasized the broader danger of setting unfavorable legislative precedents if the bill, in its present form, were allowed to take effect. The President urged lawmakers to revisit the legislation with an eye toward addressing the highlighted contradictions and ensuring that the final version aligns with national interests.
“I hope that the House of Representatives will take necessary steps to fix the identified issues with the legislation,” the President noted in his correspondence.
The bill in question is an effort by the legislature to revise the law establishing the National Assembly Library Trust Fund. It seeks to broaden the mandate of the Trust Fund, enhance its funding mechanisms, and expand its operational scope to provide greater institutional support to lawmakers and researchers.
However, with the President’s refusal to grant assent, the bill now returns to the National Assembly, where legislators must decide whether to amend it in line with the President’s concerns or attempt an override, which would require significant parliamentary support.
What you should know
The National Assembly Library Trust Fund was designed to enhance legislative research and archiving. President Tinubu’s refusal to assent underscores a growing emphasis on aligning new laws with fiscal responsibility and policy coherence, especially in an era where government accountability is under greater scrutiny.
