President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, declined his assent to the
Institute of Chartered Biochemists and Molecular Biologists of Nigeria
Bill, 2018.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, disclosed this at Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja.
According to him, the President informed the lawmakers of his
decision in a letter addressed to the lower chamber of the National
Assembly.
In the letter, President Buhari explained that the bill was an
infringement on the responsibilities of the National University
Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The President’s letter read: “Pursuant to Section 58 subsection 4 of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, I
hereby convey to the House of Representatives my decision on the 5th of
November, 2018, to decline Presidential assent to the Institute of
Chartered Biochemists and Molecular Biologists of Nigeria Bill, 2018,
recently passed by the National Assembly for the following reasons;
“The provision of Section 13 subsection 3 to give the Chartered
Biochemists and Molecular Biologists of Nigeria power to prove academic
programmes, and even close down programmes in tertiary institutions
would infringe on the mandates of the National University Commission
(NUC) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
“There are certain drafting and administrative issues in the bill,
including the following Sections 13 subsection 8, Section 14 subsection
22, to designate a chairman for both the practice and publicity
committee and unspecific process for how a chairman will emerge for
either of the education practice or publicity committees.
“This can lead to confusion in the administration of the council.”