President Bola Tinubu has declined to assent to the Federal University of Education Numan, Adamawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2024, raising concerns about a specific clause regarding land disposal. The bill was passed by the National Assembly in 2024 and sent to the President for approval.
In a letter addressed to the House of Representatives, read by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Tinubu highlighted issues with Section 22 of the bill, which grants the Adamawa State Governor authority over land disposal for the university. The President emphasized that such powers should remain under federal jurisdiction, particularly concerning federal properties.
“Section 22 confers the authority to dispose of the land of the university on the governor and not the President, as it ought to be,” the letter stated, referring to the constitutional rights over federal government-owned properties.
Binos Yaroe, the lawmaker who sponsored the bill, noted that the President did not outright reject it but pointed out clerical errors that needed correction. He indicated plans to amend the bill to replace the governor’s authority with that of the President.
