President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign two bills recently passed by the National Assembly, citing fiscal implications, legal inconsistencies, and potential policy conflicts.

The decision was disclosed on Tuesday when Senate President Godswill Akpabio read two separate letters from the President explaining his reservations.

The first, the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, sought to restructure the institute’s operations and funding model.

While commending the National Assembly’s intent, Tinubu faulted several provisions, warning that they could undermine financial discipline. He objected particularly to a clause empowering the NITT to collect one per cent of all import and export freight charges, describing it as “onerous and unfair to businesses,” and inconsistent with the Federal Government’s tax policy framework.

The President also criticised a provision allowing the institute to borrow up to ₦50 million without presidential approval, saying such latitude could erode executive oversight and expose public funds to abuse.

Tinubu further rejected a clause permitting the institute to invest its funds, arguing that as a non-revenue-generating agency funded by federal allocations, such authority was “inappropriate and inconsistent with fiscal management principles.”

In a separate correspondence, the President withheld assent to the National Library Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025, citing contradictions with existing statutes and public policy.

He said the amendments were at odds with national guidelines on funding of public institutions, taxation of national entities, public service remuneration, and tenure limits. Implementing them, he warned, would “create an unsustainable precedent” and may not serve the public interest.

Tinubu urged lawmakers to review and harmonise the problematic sections to ensure alignment with current laws and government priorities.