NLC asks Buhari to withhold assent to 46 ‘last-minute’ bills by Senate

The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold assent to the 46 bills passed by the 7th National Assembly days before the expiration of its tenure.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement on Sunday, said the legislators played to the gallery, ignoring regular legislative process.

Wabba wondered why a Senate that sat for four years hurriedly passed 46 bills by voice vote, within 10 minutes.

Describing the action as ridiculous, Wabba said President Buhari would do well to return the bills to the 8th National Assembly for proper scrutiny they deserve.

“In the light of the cavalier manner in which these bills were passed, the congress wishes to, with all sense of responsibility, call on Mr. President not to sign them into law,” he said.

“He should instead return them to the incoming 8th National Assembly to be subjected to proper legislative process.

“Whoever advised our lawmakers to take this reckless path to lawmaking has only succeeded in putting an indelible dent on whatever achievements that the 7th session of the National Assembly wished to be ascribed to it.

“By this singular action, our distinguished and honourable lawmakers have not only displayed gross disdain for the philosophy of lawmaking in a democratic setting, they have even exposed their manifest lack of interest in and commitment to the wellbeing of the country.

“They have by so doing, apart from ridiculing themselves, also unfortunately embarrassed the country in the eyes of the civilised global community”, he said.

Wabba, however, congratulated members of the incoming 8th National Assembly, while urging them to align themselves with the path of good governance.

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