Senate defers to Tinubu, rescinds, revisits two rejected bills
The Senate deferred to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday as it rescinded and reconsidered two bills the President had earlier rejected. Tinubu had withheld his assent to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council…
Under Nigeria's legislative process, bills passed by the National Assembly require presidential assent to become law. Where a president withholds assent, the relevant chamber may rework the bill to address the concerns raised, or attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority. The Raw Materials Research and Development Council, one of the bodies at the centre of this dispute, is the federal agency mandated to promote local sourcing and development of raw materials for Nigerian industries, reducing reliance on imports.
Both Tribune Online and Leadership report that the Senate has stepped back from its earlier position, rescinding prior votes to re-open the two bills Tinubu declined to sign. Leadership adds that the move followed objections from the Federal Ministry of Justice, pointing to possible legal or drafting issues rather than a straightforward policy disagreement. Neither outlet has yet detailed the specific amendments Tinubu objected to, the second bill involved beyond the Raw Materials Council legislation, or a timeline for when the reworked versions will return to the floor for a fresh vote.