During his inaugural address on May 29, Tinubu pledged to build upon the achievements of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, and outlined several forthcoming changes.
Here are the four bills that Tinubu has recently assented to:
JUDICIAL OFFICERS LAW
The first bill, titled ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (fifth alteration) (No.37), 2023,’ was signed into law on June 8. This law standardizes the retirement age for judges at 70 years and ensures uniformity in the pension rights of judicial officers from various superior courts.
ELECTRICITY ACT
On June 9, Tinubu signed a bill that grants states, companies, and individuals the authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. This new law replaces the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 and consolidates regulations concerning the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). It aims to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for a competitive electricity market, improve access to electricity, and promote the use of renewable energy.
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION ACT
On June 12, which is Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Tinubu assented to a law facilitating financial assistance to Nigerian students in tertiary institutions. Under this legislation, students can access interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. The federal government plans to commence loan disbursement from September, with eligibility based on the student’s or family’s annual income being less than N500,000.
DATA PROTECTION LAW
Tinubu signed the data protection bill into law on June 14. This act establishes the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and empowers individuals to seek redress in the event of a data breach. The law emphasizes the fair, lawful, and accountable processing of citizens’ personal data.
