President Muhammadu Buhari has conveyed to the National Assembly, his decision to decline assent to five bills.

Stating several reasons, Buhari said he would not assent to the Nigerian Film Commission Bill, Immigration Amendment Bill, Climate Change Bill, Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioners Bill and the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill.

His letters of decline were read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at yesterday’s plenary.

Buhari said he decided not to sign the Digital Rights and Freedom bill because it “seeks to cover too many technical subjects and fails to address any of them extensively.

“These areas include surveillance and digital protection, lawful interception of communication, digital protection and retention etc. Which are currently the subject of various bills pending at national assembly. 

“We, therefore, suggest that the scope of the bill should be limited to the protection of human rights within the digital environment, to reduce the challenge of duplication and legislative conflict in the future.”

The presiden also mentioned several reasons why he decided not to sign the Nigerian Film Commission bill.

“Section 1 (k) of the bill states that one percent of the proceeds for the television license for the National Broadcasting Commission shall be paid into a fund to be controlled by the national film commission. It is in conflict with section 16 (1) of the NBC Act; which stipulates the purpose for which expenditure to be generated by NBC may be used.

“Section 7 (2) (d) of the bill proposed 5 percent Value Added Tax on all film-related activities to the national film development fund violates section 40 of the VAT and ensuring formula described there in because it averts funds normally distributed to states of the Federation.”

He said the Immigration Amendment bill was denied assent “due to the concerns expressed to the retroactive effective of the provisions of 38 (5) of the bill and the impact of the section on the ease of doing business initiative of the federal government.

There are also concerns that if passed, the bill will be destructive to Nigerians in the Diaspora if other countries were to reciprocate the provisions of section 38 (5) in their Immigration laws.”