By Onwelikwu Ndidi Joseph
- House of Reps member, Nkem-Abonta, says that some of the bills yet to be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari dates back to 2017
- He states that several bills passed and forwarded to Buhari were neither signed into law nor returned to the National Assembly
- Former minister of aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, promises to work towards the fulfillment of Nigerian women in political circles
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has directed the chairman House committee on rules/business, Orker Jev, to compile a list of bills the National Assembly passed but which have not been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Punch reports that Dogara asked Jev to forward the compiled bills the floor for members to look at them and decide whether to override Buhari’s veto on them.
The speaker’s directive followed a point of order raised by the chairman, House committee on public petitions, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta on Thursday, March 8, who complained that several bills passed and forwarded to the president were neither signed into law nor returned to the National Assembly.
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Nkem-Abonta had noted that some of the bills yet to be signed into law by Buhari dated back to 2017.
The lawmaker citing the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stated that the president was expected to either sign a bill or communicate the withholding of his assent within 30 days.
Nkem-Abonta sought the application of the provisions of Section 58 of the Constitution which provide that where the president withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the president shall not be required.
After the House sustained Nkem-Abonta’s point of order, Dogara intervened to say that Buhari has always communicated his decisions on bills to the National Assembly, with reasons, where necessary, why he would not sign them.
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Meanwhile, the senator representing Anambra North senatorial district, Stella Oduah, has disclosed that the Nigerian Senate will soon reintroduce the bill for 35 percent affirmative action for women as ministers as well as 20 percent for women as commissioners in states.
Senator Oduah made this known on Thursday, March 8, at a press conference in Abuja, as part of activities commemorating this year's International Women's Day.
The senator pointed out that the bill which was rejected by the Senate in July 2017 in the constitution amendment exercise, would be reintroduced and forwarded to the 36 state assemblies for endorsement.
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