Bills: Why National Assembly Can’t Override President’s Veto

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has been absolved of all blames over his alleged refusal to assent to bills passed by the National Assembly.
The clean bill of health on Jonathan came same day the Senate disclosed that a total of 178 were introduced and handled by the Senate over the past 12 months.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Sam Tsokwa had last Thursday disclosed that some bills transmitted to President Jonathan were yet to be assented to and threatened that the lower chamber of the parliament would take steps to override the president's on these bills.

The controversy was however laid to rest as the upper chamber of the parliament disclosed that there were no bills pending before the president, which he had “unreasonably” withheld assent.
The Senate also said that if there were any bills awaiting assent, the president was entitled to examine them within a minimum period before assenting to such bills.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang made the clarification while unveiling the score card of the first legislative year of the 7th session of the Nigerian Senate.

Enang disclosed that some of bills which some sections of the public have been complaining about were passed by the previous session of the parliament and were no longer valid for presidential assent unless and until they were re-introduced and revived by the parliament.

He acknowledged the concerns expressed in some quarters on the issue but explained that the National Assembly had constitutional constraints and cannot override the veto of Mr President on certain bills given the time they were passed and transmitted to him for assent.

10:59:00 AM