President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, September 24, declined assent to a bill seeking to extend the tenure of service of legislative officers at the National Assembly.
The bill also sought to extend the tenure of the 36 state Houses of Assembly from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Channels TV reported that the president’s declined assent was conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by the Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The president’s letter read that:
PremiumTimes reported that the harmonised controversial retirement age bill was first withdrawn in February 2024 after a significant number of senators voted against it, for further research and consultation with stakeholders.
The bill, first introduced during the 7th Assembly, was transmitted to the 9th Assembly where it suffered a standstill and subsequently to the 10th Senate.
In a related development, TimesNow.com.ng reported that the House of Representatives on July 17, passed the first reading of a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution, proposing a single six-year term for the president and state governors.
Sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere and 50 other lawmakers, the bill seeks to revise Sections 7, 135, 137, 180, and 182 (1) of the Constitution.
Key amendments include a new six-year term for local government chairmen, presidents, and governors, among others.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
