President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the Federal University of Education, Numan (Establishment) Bill, 2024, citing concerns over a clause granting land disposal authority to the Adamawa State Governor instead of the President.

His decision was communicated to the House of Representatives in a letter read by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during Tuesday’s session.

Sponsored by Senator Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South), the bill was passed by the National Assembly in 2024 and forwarded to the President for approval.

In his letter, Tinubu objected to Section 22 of the bill, emphasizing that matters concerning federal government-owned property, particularly universities, fall under presidential jurisdiction.

“Under Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, I hereby inform the House of Representatives of my decision, made on December 23, 2024, to withhold assent to the Federal University of Education, Numan (Establishment) Bill, 2024,” the letter stated.

He further clarified:

“I am declining assent to the bill as Section 22 wrongly vests authority over the disposal of university land in the governor instead of the President, who has jurisdiction over federal properties.”

Senator Yaroe, speaking at a forum in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area last week, explained that the rejection was not outright but a correction of clerical errors.

“The President identified certain mistakes in the bill that needed to align with the constitution. For example, we mistakenly gave land authority to the governor instead of the President, who is the rightful authority for the institution,” Yaroe stated.

The House of Representatives has adjourned its session to Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in honor of the late Deputy Whip, Adewunmi Onanuga.

Onanuga, who passed away on January 15 at age 59, represented the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State and previously chaired the House Committee on Women Affairs.