Acting President Osinbajo signs 7 bills into law

Seven new bills have now become Acts of the National Assembly following their being assented to by the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, the bills are:
Oaths (Amendment) Act, 2017; Defence Space Adminis- tration Act, 2017; Veterinary Surgeons (Amend-ment) Act, 2017; National Film and Video Censors Board (Amendment) Act, 2017; Pension Rights of Judges (Amendment) Act, 2017; Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (Establishment, etc.) Act, 2017; and Mortgage Institutions (Amendment)Act, 2016.

“His Excellency, the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, has assented to the following Bills passed by the National   Assembly and transmitted for assent, and the Bills have, accordingly, become laws, namely; Ag Pres Osinbajo Oaths (Amendment) Act, 2017; Defence Space Adminis-tration Act, 2017; Veterinary Surgeons (Amendment) Act, 2017; National Film and Video Censors Board (Amendment) Act, 2017; Pension Rights of Judges (Amendment) Act, 2017; Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (Establishment, etc.)Act, 2017 and Mortgage Institutions (Amendment) Act, 2016.

“The Acts, other than the Defence Space Administration Act and the Institute of Soil Science Act, are mainly amendments to the principal Acts intended to bring the Acts in conformity with current realities.

“The Oaths Amendment Act specifically enlists courts which were not in existence at the time the Oaths Act was made and which came into being upon amendment of the Consti-tution creating courts such as the Federal High Court, F.C.T High Court, National Industrial Court, among others named in the Amendment Act.

“Defence Space Administration Act establishes the Defence Space Administration, to develop satellite technology and ensure security of the nation’s cyber activities.

“Veterinary Surgeons (Amendment) Act reduces the membership of the Veterinary Council.

“National Film and Video Censors Board (Amend-ment) Act reduces the membership of the Governing Board and empowers the Board to regulate the import and export of movies.

“Pension Rights of Judges (Amendment) Act expands the meaning of a judicial officer to cover the offices of the Chief Judge or Judge of the Federal High Court, President or Judges of the National Industrial Court and Chief Judge or Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (Establishment, etc.) Act establishes the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science which is charged  with the responsibility of regulating the profession of Soil Science.

“Mortgage Institutions (Amendment) Act reviews the prescribed penalties.

“For bills transmitted but not listed herein, there are appropriate communications by the constitutional authority remitting same as allowed by law.”