Bills Approved By Tinubu – See The 4 Bills approved by President Tinubu
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Within a fortnight, the president swiftly enacted four bills, accompanied by economic reforms, and emphasized several forthcoming developments that Nigerians should anticipate.
During his inauguration address on May 29, he vowed to enhance the accomplishments of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari. Here are the four bills that Tinubu has assented to since assuming office.
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1. Judicial Officers Law Bill
On June 8, the president signed the bill titled ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (fifth alteration) (No.37), 2023,’ marking it as the first legislation to receive his assent.
This law establishes a unified retirement age of 70 years for judges, ensuring consistency across the board. Additionally, it addresses pension rights for judicial officers serving in the ‘superior courts of record’ as outlined in section 6(5) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
The ‘superior courts of record’ mentioned in section 6(5) include the supreme court, court of appeal, federal high court, high court of Abuja, high courts of states, sharia court of appeal, national industrial court, and customary courts of appeal.
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2. Electricity Act Bill
On June 9, Tinubu endorsed a bill that grants states, companies, and individuals the authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. This new electricity law supersedes the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 and consolidates the various laws about the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Tinubu commented on the significance of the new law, stating that it would drive progress towards achieving a consistent power supply in the country. After privatisation, the legislation establishes a comprehensive and institutional framework for Nigeria’s power sector, encompassing generation, transmission, distribution, supply, trading, and general electricity usage.
The primary aim is to create a robust legal and institutional structure to govern Nigeria’s privatized electricity market, which operates based on contracts and rules, fostering healthy competition. Moreover, the law outlines a framework to enhance electricity access in rural, unserved, underserved, peri-urban, and urban regions through conventional and renewable energy sources.
According to the law, states are authorized to issue licenses to private investors interested in operating mini-grids and power plants. However, it’s important to note that these licenses do not extend to electricity distribution between states or internationally.
3. Student Loan Act Bill
On Nigeria’s Democracy Day, June 12, Tinubu approved a law facilitating financial assistance to Nigerian students pursuing tertiary education.
Under this legislation, students can access interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. The federal government has announced its plans to establish the necessary procedures for loan disbursement, with the process expected to commence in September.
According to the act’s provisions, all students who have secured admission into public Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, or technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools can apply for the loan.
To qualify for the loan, the student’s or their family’s annual income must not exceed N500,000.
The legislation further specifies that once successful applicants have completed their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, their employers will be responsible for deducting the loan amount from their salaries.
4. Data Protection Law Bill
On June 14, Tinubu enacted the data protection bill, authorizing the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) creation. This legislation empowers Nigerian citizens to seek recourse in a data breach.
The law establishes guidelines that require citizens’ data to be handled in a manner that is fair, lawful, and accountable during processing.
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