President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally declined assent to the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2025, citing constitutional, policy, and fiscal concerns.
The proposed legislation, which aims to transform the existing Trust Fund into a National Assembly Resource Centre, was rejected by the President through a letter addressed to the House of Representatives. The letter was read during plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
While acknowledging the Bill’s good intentions, President Tinubu expressed reservations about several provisions he said conflicted with federal laws and administrative principles.
“While the Bill pursues commendable objectives, some of its provisions are inconsistent with established laws and policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the President stated.
Among the President’s key concerns were the proposed funding mechanism for institutions under the National Assembly, the taxation of federal entities, remuneration frameworks within the public service, and specified criteria relating to age and years of service.
According to Tinubu, enacting the Bill in its current form would set “an unsustainable precedent” and potentially disrupt governance structures and legal standards, warning that it could have far-reaching consequences for institutional operations across the public sector.
Though the President did not provide a detailed breakdown of the contentious sections, he stressed that the draft Bill, as it stands, poses serious legal and fiscal challenges.
He urged lawmakers to re-examine the legislation and make necessary adjustments to ensure it aligns with the Constitution and federal fiscal policies.
“I trust the House of Representatives will take appropriate steps to resolve the issues identified in this legislation,” the letter concluded.
