Tinubu Rejects Two National Assembly Bills Over Constitutional Flaws.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday declined to assent to two bills passed by the National Assembly, citing constitutional concerns and drafting defects that require correction before the proposed legislation can become law.

The Senate was informed of the President’s decision through two separate letters read on the floor of the chamber by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The affected bills are the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria Bill.

In both communications, President Tinubu said his decision was made in accordance with Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which allows the President to withhold assent and return bills to the National Assembly with observations for reconsideration.

On the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (Amendment) Bill, the President said the proposed legislation contained structural and drafting issues that required legislative review.

He said the bill’s long title did not sufficiently capture its main objective of promoting the development, protection and processing of Nigeria’s raw materials.

According to the President, the title should expressly indicate that the amendment seeks to support the development and protection of raw materials while encouraging local manufacturing and processing industries.

President Tinubu also raised concerns over inconsistencies in Section 2 of the bill, stating that it presented the council’s functions as legislative objectives rather than operational responsibilities.

He explained that legislative objectives should define policy direction, while the functions of an agency should outline its specific responsibilities.

The President further noted that provisions relating to value addition in raw materials were inserted between sections dealing with the council’s finances and annual accounts, making the amendment difficult to follow.

“These erroneous insertions make the Bill incoherent and difficult to comprehend within the context of the Principal Act. Accordingly, the Bill as currently proposed is disjointed,” he said.

On the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria Bill, President Tinubu said some proposed amendments sought to confer powers on the institute beyond its statutory mandate.

While acknowledging the merits of several provisions in the bill, he said some sections required further review before presidential assent could be granted.

He specifically objected to the proposed amendment to Clause 8, which seeks to introduce new sub-clauses into Section 11 of the principal Act.

The President said one of the proposed provisions would require incorporated entities and organisations to notify the institute within one month of appointing heads of procurement and supply chain departments.

He argued that the requirement was legally inappropriate because the institute does not serve as the statutory regulator of such organisations.

“The Institute, not being the regulator, cannot force incorporated entities or organisations that are independent and perhaps not registered members of the Institute to furnish such particulars,” President Tinubu stated.

He also criticised provisions that would empower the institute to inspect organisations, sanction employers and enforce compliance among entities established under the Companies and Allied Matters Act.

According to him, those proposed powers exceeded the institute’s legal authority.

However, President Tinubu indicated that the bill could still receive assent once the identified concerns are addressed.

“Subject to the correction of the above issues, the Bill may be suitable for retransmission for assent,” he said.

Following the reading of the letters, Senate President Akpabio referred both matters to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative consideration. The committee was directed to report back to the chamber within four weeks.

Under Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, the President may withhold assent to a bill passed by the National Assembly and return it with observations for reconsideration.