Buhari rejects Institute of Biochemists, Molecular Biologists Bills

President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, declined his assent to the
Institute of Chartered Biochemists and Molecular Biologists of Nigeria
Bill, 2018.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, disclosed this
at Tuesday's plenary in Abuja.

According to him, the President informed the lawmakers of his decision
in a letter addressed to the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

In the letter, President Buhari explained that the bill was an
infringement on the responsibilities of the National University
Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education
(NBTE).

The President's letter read: "Pursuant to Section 58 subsection 4 of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended,
I hereby convey to the House of Representatives my decision on the 5th
of November, 2018, to decline Presidential assent to the Institute of
Chartered Biochemists and Molecular Biologists of Nigeria Bill, 2018,
recently passed by the National Assembly for the following reasons;

"The provision of Section 13 subsection 3 to give the Chartered
Biochemists and Molecular Biologists of Nigeria power to prove
academic programmes, and even close down programmes in tertiary
institutions would infringe on the mandates of the National University
Commission (NUC) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

"There are certain drafting and administrative issues in the bill,
including the following Sections 13 subsection 8, Section 14
subsection 22, to designate a chairman for both the practice and
publicity committee and unspecific process for how a chairman will
emerge for either of the education practice or publicity committees.

"This can lead to confusion in the administration of the council."