Its
Director, Corporate Accountability and Administration, Mr Akinbode
Oluwafemi, said there is the likelihood the Bill may not have gotten to
the President’s desk for signature.
Oluwafemi,
who spoke yesterday at a press briefing in Lagos, said President
Jonathan would be mandated within 30 days to either sign the Bill into
law or return it to the National Assembly with cogent reasons why it was
rejected. He said the counting would start from the day it got to his
table. “When it is returned by the President, if that is the case,
two-third majority of the National Assembly can veto it to become a
law,” he added.
He
said the hopes of many Nigerians who had expected the President to sign
the Bill before the United Nations high-level meeting in New York on
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), was dashed. “At that meeting, many
heads of states and government made a commitment towards eradicating the
risk factors of NCD, one of which is tobacco use,” he added.
He
said the government’s action showed it was not responsive to the health
of the people, thereby lacking commitment to them. “Our leaders failed
to show the world that the country is ready and determined to meet the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by providing the people with a safe
and clean environment through comprehensive tobacco control legislation.
“Nigeria
has failed to set a leadership role for the rest of Africa by taking
preventive measures on the tobacco epidemic. It did not complete the
work on the NTCB sponsored by Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora,” Oluwafemi
said.
He urged the Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to the President, Senator Joy Emordi and other legislators to expedite the process of the Bill and forward it to the President immediately.
He urged the Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to the President, Senator Joy Emordi and other legislators to expedite the process of the Bill and forward it to the President immediately.
