President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined to sign the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2025 into law, raising serious concerns about the bill’s alignment with existing federal statutes and public governance policies.
In a formal communication addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which was read during Tuesday’s plenary session, President Tinubu acknowledged the positive intentions behind the proposed legislation but emphasized that several provisions of the bill were inconsistent with current national laws and administrative guidelines.
“Despite the commendable objectives of the legislation, certain provisions within it contradict the established laws and policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the funding of agencies under the National Assembly, taxation of national entities, public service remuneration, and age and years of service, among other issues,” the President’s letter read.
Provisions Raise Red Flags on Governance Precedents
Tinubu specifically pointed to sections of the bill that deal with:
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Funding mechanisms for agencies under the legislative arm,
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Taxation-related implications on national institutions,
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Public sector pay structures, and
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Service conditions, including age limits and tenure policies.
He warned that allowing such provisions to be codified into law could set a dangerous and unsustainable precedent that would eventually erode the integrity of public sector governance.
“If this bill becomes law, these provisions will establish an unsustainable precedent against the public interest,” Tinubu cautioned.
Call for Legislative Review
While reaffirming his support for strengthening the operations of the National Assembly Library, Tinubu advised lawmakers to revisit the bill and resolve the problematic sections. He expressed hope that the House would act in a manner that aligns with Nigeria’s broader legal and fiscal frameworks.
“I hope that the House of Representatives will take necessary steps to fix the identified issues with the legislation,” the President concluded.
Background on the Bill
The National Assembly Library Trust Fund Amendment Bill, 2025 was introduced with the goal of improving the financing and operational efficiency of the National Assembly's library system, which serves as a critical resource hub for legislative research and policy development.
Proponents of the bill argue that a more robust library infrastructure is essential to support lawmakers and enhance legislative effectiveness. However, the bill’s approach to achieving this particularly in terms of funding and administration has now been deemed problematic by the Presidency.
With the President’s refusal to sign the bill, the National Assembly now has the option to:
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Amend the bill in line with the President’s objections and resubmit it,
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Override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers (though this is rarely exercised), or
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Abandon or shelve the bill indefinitely.
As of now, there is no indication on which path lawmakers will pursue, but further deliberations are expected in the coming weeks.
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