One can safely and boldly assert that no elected Nigerian President has signed into Law as many landmark reform parliamentary Bills as President Muhammadu Buhari has so far done.
A quick list of key ones (by no means is this a list of ALL):
The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), 2021, which finally became an Act after almost two decades of false starts. Broken — one of the Greatest Jinxes Ever Liveth!
The Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act, 1993 (Amendment) Act, 2019, coming almost three decades after the original legislation.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Act, 2019, establishing @fccpcnigeria. First piece of standalone legislation in Nigeria’s history dedicated to curbing anti-competition practices (+ strengthening legal framework for consumer protection).
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (@NCDCgov) Establishment Act, 2018. Prior to that time (2018), the NCDC did not have enabling legislation, which limited its ability to function optimally. (There’s a reason why it wasn’t front-and-center during the Ebola crisis of 2014)
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2019, an Executive Bill, facilitating identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property and other instrumentalities of crime, as well as criminal prosecution of offenders.
The Act establishing the Police Trust Fund, to significantly improve funding for @PoliceNG (2019).
For first time ever, Nigeria has a dedicated Fund, with clearly spelt out financing mechanisms, to support Policing. (New Act complements new Nigeria Police Act, 2020, see below)
The @PoliceNG Act, 2020 – the first comprehensive reform of Nigerian Police legislation since 1943, i.e after more than 70 years. (Among other things the new Police Act makes provisions for implementation of a nationwide Community Policing Initiative).
The Repealed and Re-Enacted Companies & Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020 – the first comprehensive reform of this most important Business/Companies Act, since 1990.
One of the most important reforms EVER!!!
The Not Too Young to Run Act (2018) – a Constitution Amendment Bill, reducing the age of eligibility for running for elective office in Nigeria, and opening up unprecedented opportunities for young Nigerians to get more actively involved in partisan politics.
Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. 1st such national-level legislation dedicated to persons living with disability in Nigeria. New Act led to establishment of a National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) in 2020.
Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019. Just like the new Police Act reformed a 70-year-old law, this new Act comprehensively reformed an existing Prisons Law dating back to 1972.
(New Act created the Nigerian Correctional Service, to replace the old Nigerian Prisons Service).
[New Act embodies a new focus on non-custodial and restorative measures and interventions, like community service, parole and probation, and seeks to put an end to prison congestion].
Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill, 2019 – the first omnibus, dedicated anti-piracy legislation in West Africa and Gulf of Guinea.
Already, the first sets of convictions under this new Act have been secured, in August 2020 and July 2021 respectively.
A Bill to grant financial autonomy to States’ Houses of Assembly and States’ Judiciary (2018). A constitution amendment Bill.
The Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), 2020. Another very important piece of financial sector reform legislation.
Finance Acts 2019, 2020, 2021:
Another unprecedented one in history of Nigeria - the decision to accompany every annual Federal Appropriation Bill, starting in 2020, with a Finance Act that focuses on targeted reforms, while also updating obsolete provisions of existing laws.
Today, on this 25th Day of February, 2022, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 signed into Law. One of the most important Bills ever!! Yet another Buhari reform legacy.
And we still have over a year to go, before pens down!
From Abuja where PMB has just signed into law the historic Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022, we move to Lagos, where the VP is commissioning @KCCorp’s new $80m manufacturing facility, in Ikorodu. Host Governor @jidesanwoolu is also here. #InvestNigeria
I will try to live-tweet highlights of #StateHouseBriefing, featuring Governor @elrufai this morning. Follow this thread. See previous tweet for livestream link.
A thread about Nigeria’s Conditional Cash Transfer program @HUPcct - one of the programs under the National Social Investment Programme; and whether N5,000 a month (current monthly payment, to 1.6 million Nigerian households) can make a difference in people’s lives or not.
HM @Sadiya_farouq was asked about the N5,000 at #StateHouseBriefing yesterday. A journalist, asking a question, spoke dismissively about the amount - that N5,000 cannot do anything.
Minister’s reply:
“Saying 5,000 cannot make a difference in ppl’s lives is an elitist statement. We know, ‘cos we’ve gone to the field. We’ve seen ppl, when you pay them this @HUPcct 5k, they cry ‘cos they’ve never seen 5k before. It goes a long way, changes their status.”