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Buhari Won’t Sign Any More Bills – Presidency

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Our best will be good enough for Nigeria- Buhari

The Presidency said on Sunday that President Muhammadu Buhari had drawn the curtains on the signing of bills for the Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution.

It noted that any bills not signed till date must have lapsed, adding that Buhari would have also communicated same to the National Assembly.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, spoke exclusively with The PUNCH amid renewed talks that Buhari failed to sign most of the constitutional amendment bills.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives spent at least N1bn of taxpayers’ money between 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 on the fourth alteration of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Speaking on the issue, Enang said, “If the President has not signed any bill as of today – and he must have written the National Assembly informing them – it is because the time allowed by law has elapsed.

“It is no more available for signing. And I know that the President assented to some of the bills that were submitted and sent the rest back to the National Assembly.

“Anyone that has not been assented to, the time constitutionally allowed has elapsed and the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives must have been communicated.”

Findings showed that the Senate and the House initially proposed 33 amendments to the constitution, but both chambers only mutually passed 17 of the bills.

The 17 bills were later forwarded to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for approval in compliance with Section 9 of the constitution.

It was gathered that on April 18, the National Assembly forwarded 12 of the bills, which secured the endorsement of the two chambers upon return from the states, to President Buhari for his assent.

The PUNCH learnt that Buhari so far signed the Not Too Young to Run Bill (reducing the eligible age to contest for President from 40 to 35 years) and four others.

A June 8, 2018 Presidency document obtained by The PUNCH, itemised the bills the President assented to.

However, the 12 bills forwarded to the President earlier included Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 2 (Authorisation of Expenditure in Absence of Appropriation); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 4 (Financial Autonomy of State Legislatures); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 8 (The Legislature); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 9 (Political Parties and Electoral Matters); and Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 15 (The Nigeria Police Force).

There were also Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 16 (Restriction of Tenure of President and Governor); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 20 (Submission from the Judiciary); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 21 (Determination of Pre-Election Matters); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 22 (Consequential Amendment on Civil Defence); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 24 (Procedure for Overriding Presidential Veto in Constitutional Alteration); Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 27 (Reduction of Age for Election); and the Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill No 28 (Timeline for the Presentation of Appropriation Bill).

But, when The PUNCH sought the reaction of the National Assembly on the development, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazak Namdas, said the legislature had not rested the issue of constitution amendment.

He stated that a revisit was possible next year (2019) since the tenure of the 8th Assembly would not terminate till June 9.

Namdas said much as Buhari had sent a number of the bills back to the National Assembly, there were others the President had yet to sign and he also did not revert to the legislature.

He added, “To be fair to the President, he signed more bills, compared to previous Presidents. He also has a record of giving reasons he declined assent. But, there are bills he hasn’t signed and they are very important too.

“When we resume, we will look at those bills that have not been signed and see what we can do about them.

“As for the constitution alteration bills specifically, we will take a firm decision on them because all we need is two-thirds majority to pass them. So, until we resume in January to take a firm decision.”

Credit: Punch

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NPA Announces 15% Port Tariff Increase, First in 32 Years

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The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has announced a 15% raise in port tariffs, marking the first hike in 32 years.

This was disclosed by the NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, during a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Thursday.

He stated that the 15% increment will be applied across board, affecting various services and operations within the ports.

According to Dantsoho, represented by Executive Director of Marine and Operations Mr. Olalekan Badmus, the NPA has maintained the same rates for over three decades despite significant economic changes.

Persecondnews reports that the changes include exchange rate fluctuations, rising wages, fuel and lubricant costs, and inflation.

The tariff increase aims to address these economic realities and ensure the sustainability of port operations.

The decision, however, has been greeted with mixed reactions.

While some stakeholders in the shipping and logistics sectors have expressed concerns about the impact of the tariff hike on the cost of doing business in Nigeria, others have acknowledged the necessity of the move in light of the agency’s financial constraints and the broader economic conditions.

The tariff increase is expected to take effect in the coming months, and the NPA has assured stakeholders that it will work closely with port operators, shipping companies, and other stakeholders to minimize any potential disruptions during the transition.

Additionally, the NPA plans to use the additional revenue generated from the increase to fund improvements of port infrastructure, enhance the capacity of terminals, and improve services such as cargo handling, storage, and security.

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Temper justice with mercy, deputy speaker begs Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu

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… says Kanu’s release will end insecurity in S’East

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to temper justice with mercy and give freedom to the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

Kalu made the appeal after the inaugural meeting of the House of Representatives committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

The deputy speaker commended the President for his support and commitment towards peace, development and stability of the South-East region.


He noted that the President since assuming office has in various ways proven his love for the South-Easterners through his speedy assent to the South East Development Commission Bill which failed in previous assemblies.

Suggesting the adoption of political approach than legal for the release of Kanu, Kalu said that the people of the region will be eternally grateful to the President if that becomes a reality.


Expressing optimism that the President will heed to their appeal, the deputy speaker noted that when Kanu is released insecurity in the region will be reduced and as well spring up development that the SEDC is going to bring.


“We are thankful to Mr President for doing this for the South-East. Insecurity is a major concern in the area, you can’t have development in midst of insecurity. That’s why we started what we call peace in South-East project supported by the parliament. But in doing so we noticed that the insecurity there will be reduced if Nnamdi Kanu is released. We want Nnamdi Kanu to be released because we know it will give our people more security”, he said.

“Those who are using him as excuses to perpetrate all these criminal actions around our area will have no other reason to be on the street. Then the police and security agencies will catch anyone who claims Nnamdi Kanu is the reason for causing harm to the people of South-East. So, we are begging, you can’t coarse the President, he’s the Commander in Chief. All we are saying is use political approach not the legal approach. We are appealing to him to temper justice with mercy and release Nnamdi Kanu to southeast people. It will ensure more security for our people and spring up development that this SEDC is going to bring” Kalu urged.

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I will make it harder for immigrants to get British citizenship – Kemi Badenoch vows

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The United Kingdom Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has vowed that she will make it more difficult for immigrants to get British citizenship.

While making one of her first policy announcements since she became leader, Badenoch said immigrants would only be able to apply for citizenship after being in the UK for 15 years.

Badenoch also declared that indefinite leave to remain, which paves the way for citizenship, should not be granted to those who have criminal records or who had claimed benefits or social housing.


According to her, citizenship was a privilege, not just a right and should only be for those with a “meaningful connection to the UK”.

Obtaining indefinite leave to remain, ILR gives people the right to live, work and study in the UK.

It is usually possible for a person to apply for ILR if they have worked in the UK for at least five years, although it can be two or three years if they came to the UK on particular visas.

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