The Chairman, Rules and Business Committee said the seven bills were passed by the preceding Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent but the reason for withholding assent was not communicated before the 9th Assembly ended.
The House of Representatives at the resumed plenary on Thursday, presented 52 bills for first reading and another seven from the previous Assembly for reconsideration.
Of the 52 bills that fall under various categories, 20 are seeking amendment, 18 are establishment bills, and others are for repeal and alteration of the provisions of the Constitution.
The seven bills which were also presented for reconsideration include, Food Vendors (Registration) Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 326); Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians Councils of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 345); Federal Colleges of Education Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.494); Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 171); Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 478); Chartered Institute of Cooperatives Professionals of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 603); Nigerian Council of Psychologists (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 610); and Institute of Economists of Nigeria, Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 224).
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According to the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Francis Waive (APC, Delta), the bills were either not assented to or concurrence were not made.
“The House notes that pursuant to Order Twelve, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House, Bills passed by the preceding Assembly and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence for which no concurrence was made or negatived or passed by the Senate and forwarded to the House for which no concurrence was made or negatived or which were passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent but for which assent or withholding thereof was not communicated before the end of the tenure of the Assembly, the House may resolve that such Bill, upon being re-gazetted or clean copies circulated, be re-considered in the Committee of the Whole without being commenced de-novo.
“Also notes that the aforementioned Bills were passed by the preceding Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent but for which assent or withholding thereof was not communicated before the end of the tenure of the last Assembly;
Aware that the Bills were read for the first time as 326, 345, 494, 171, 478, 603, 610 and 224 respectively.”
