President Muhammadu Buhari has signed 19 bills into law, including 16 constitutional amendment bills that alter some provisions of the 1999 Constitution. One of the new laws allows states in Nigeria to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid, while another grants state governments the right to establish their own railway service, moving the railway from the Exclusive Legislative List to the concurrent list. Additionally, financial independence has been granted to State Houses of Assembly and the State Judiciary.

Another constitutional amendment bill mandates the President and governors to submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly. The President also assented to the bill ensuring that the period of intervening events is excluded in the computation of time for determining pre-election matters petitions, and the bill regulating the first session and inauguration of members-elect of National and State Assemblies.

The Senior Special Assistant to The President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, explained in a statement that the President had also signed into law the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology Act, the Nigerian Institute of International Relations Act, and the Federal Medical Centres (Amendment) Acts.

The National Assembly had transmitted 35 Constitution amendment bills to the President for assent in January 2023, following the Senate’s resolution to forward all proposed legislation that had met the requirement for assent, as provided for in Section 9 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, commended the President for signing some legislations that altered some provisions of the 1999 Constitution. Wase noted that the Constitution (Fifth Alteration) bill, 2023, is fragmented into 16 bills, with four bills centred on devolution of powers/promotion of true Federalism and strengthening of State Houses of Assembly and Judiciary. He also commended members of the 9th National Assembly for working tirelessly to ensure the passage of “these legacy legislations”.

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