National Assembly Begins Recommittal of Defense, EFCC &Other Bills

The National Assembly (NASS) has taken the initiative to recommittal bills that were passed by the 9th Assembly but were not assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari before the expiration of the 9th Assembly.

According to records from the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Sani Tambawal, four bills fall into this category. These bills include the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bill, the Armed Forces Act Amendment Bill 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Bill 2023, and the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and Other Related Materials Bill 2023.

Other bills like The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Bill 2023 and the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria Bill 2023 are also among those being recommitted.

The Peace Corps bill, which was supported by the majority of lawmakers in the 9th National Assembly, has been retransmitted to President Bola Tinubu for his assent through a letter dated June 8 and signed by Tambawal. However, it became statute-barred for presidential assent on June 13, when the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated since it was passed by the 9th Assembly.

It was reported that the lawmakers are making concerted efforts to quickly reconsider, pass, and transmit these bills for President Tinubu's assent. Some of these bills were sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, and were read for the first time on July 27.