By David Oluwatosin
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted five executive communications to the Senate for consideration and approval, including bills seeking to strengthen drug enforcement, expand the mandate of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and establish a National School of Government.
According to a statement by the Senate, the submissions cover legislative reforms, a request for financial reimbursement to Yobe State and the domestication of international legal instruments on genocide and related crimes.
One of the bills seeks to amend the legal framework governing the NSIB to extend its investigative mandate to the maritime sector, while another proposes the repeal and re-enactment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act to strengthen investigations involving suspected drug dealers.
The President also transmitted a bill seeking the repeal of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Act to pave the way for the establishment of the National School of Government.
Another communication requests Senate approval for the reimbursement of N100.5 billion to the Yobe State Government following the Federal Government’s takeover of the cargo airport in Damaturu.
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The fifth submission seeks approval for the domestication of additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The move is intended to provide a legal framework for enforcing punishment for genocide and related offences.
The Senate is expected to consider the submissions in line with its legislative and constitutional responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Senate honoured victims of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, and called for a transparent investigation into the incident.
The lawmakers stressed the need for an investigation that would establish the circumstances surrounding the crash and provide clarity on the incident.
The call for transparency comes amid renewed attention to aviation safety and the need to establish the facts surrounding aircraft accidents.
