By Atoyebi Nike
President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2025, citing constitutional and policy concerns that could undermine government structures and set an “unsustainable precedent.”
The decision was conveyed in a letter read by House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during Tuesday’s resumed plenary session of the House of Representatives.
While acknowledging the bill’s good intentions, Tinubu pointed to multiple areas of concern, including provisions on funding structures for National Assembly agencies, taxation of national entities, public service remuneration, and criteria relating to age and years of service.
“These provisions, if enacted, would contradict existing laws and Federal Government policies, creating legal and fiscal complications,” Tinubu said.
He urged the lawmakers to revise the bill to address the identified issues, warning that its current form poses risks to national governance and administrative coherence.
The bill aims to amend the 2022 Act establishing the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, with the goal of enhancing funding strategies and expanding the scope of library services available to lawmakers and the public.
