Senate Overrides Buhari On 2 Declined Bills

Two of the bills rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari have received the blessings of the Senate, as the lawmakers on Wednesday resolved to veto the bills.

One of the bills, a constitutional amendment, makes it compulsory for the President and state Governors to lay annual budget estimates before the legislature three months before the end of the financial year.

The second bill is the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Amendment Bill.

According to the Senate, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill and other bills rejected by President Buhari would be reconsidered, passed and transmitted back to him for assent.

Four other bills were however not as lucky, as the lawmakers decided to discontinue further legislative work on them.

The decision of the Red Chamber followed the adoption of the report of the Technical Committee on Declined Assent to Bills By the President.

According to the Chairman of the committee, David Umaru, his panel scrutinized 17 bills and recommended 11 to be reconsidered and passed by the National Assembly. The committee also recommended the overriding of the President’s veto on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No. 28) Bill, 2018 as well as the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Amendment Bill.