President Muhammadu Buhari has conveyed to the Senate his decision to withdraw assent to the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority Bill.
In a letter read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at plenary on Wednesday, President Buhari gave reasons for withholding assent to the bill
The decision brings to over 30, the number of bills rejected by Mr Buhari since the inauguration of the 8th Senate.
His reasons for rejecting the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority Bill borders on funding and overlap of functions.
The letter reads, “The comprehensive definition of the Nigeria Inland Waterways covers virtually all rivers, lakes and lagoons irrespective of the location of the body. The bill contradicts provisions of the constitution which limits the power of the National Assembly to make laws in relation to water from sources affecting more than one state of inland waterways which has been declared to be an international waterway or inter-state waterway.
“The bill as currently drafted subject the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Nigeria Ports Authority to the supervision of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority.
“The funding provision of the bill which seeks to appropriate 25 per cent of the ports development levy annually, 15 per cent of the ecological fund annually and 1 per cent of the funds accruable to the federal government for oil and gas within the cleared waterways and the right of way and 2.5 per cent fees annually paid by companies operating power plants within waterways are grossly excessive and will negatively affect the revenues of the federal government.”
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