PEACE CORPS BILLS SHIFTED ASIDE as Buhari signs 8 BILLS into LAW

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed eight bills into law including the National Senior Citizens Center Act, 2018.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang, briefed State House correspondents on Friday.

According to him, the National Senior Citizens Center Act, 2018, establishes the National Senior Citizens Center in the country to cater for the needs of the senior citizens.

Others bills signed into law are Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges), 2018, National Institute of Legislative Studies (Amendment) Act, 2018, and Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain (Domestication and Enforcement ) Act, 2018.

Others are Rail Loan (International Bank) (Repeal) Act, 2018, Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2018, Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration Act, 2018 and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (Establishment), Act, 2018.

The Legislative House Power and Privileges Act, Enang said, grants the Legislative Houses in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly immunity from litigation for actions taken in plenary or committee proceedings of the House or committee.

It strengthens the power of the Legislators to carry out their Legislative functions.

The powers include powers to summon any person to appear before her, give evidence, including power of an officer of the legislative House to arrest any person who commits an offense against the Act.

The National Institute for Legislative Studies (Amendment) Act establishing the Institute and widens her Powers to include powers to provide training courses and Award Degrees on Democracy, Party Politics, Electoral Process, Legislative Practice and Procedures among others.

Recall that in December last year, President Muhammadu Buhari signed three bills, earlier passed by the National Assembly, into law.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed that in a statement made available journalists.

Adesina said the President signed the three bills on Tuesday.

The statement reads;

“President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 assented to the following Bills:
1. Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy (Establishment) Bill, 2017. The college to be sited in Enugu, is to provide courses of instruction leading to the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates in dental technology, dental therapy and related courses.

2. Air Force Institute of Technology of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2017. The Institute to be situated in Kaduna, is to give technical training to the personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and other services of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigerians and citizens of other African countries.

3. National Intelligence Agency Pensions (Establishment) Bill, 2017, is to administer the pensions scheme for personnel of the Agency, sequel to the exit of the Agency from the application of the Contributory Pension’s Scheme under the Pension’s Reform Act, 2004.”