By NEXTER
The African Leadership Strategy and Transparency for Development Initiative (ALSDI), has called on President Bola Tinubu not to assent to the statue-barred Bill for the establishment of the Chartered Institute of Digital Forensics of Nigeria.
ALSDI’s Executive Director and Convener, Comrade Nelson Ossaieze, who stated this during a press briefing in Abuja, said through official records, the Bill was transmitted to the President through the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, under a covering letter dated February 23, 2026 and was duly received by the Presidency on February 25, 2026.
He said Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides in clear terms that the President shall within 30 days of receiving a Bill, signify assent or withhold assent.
“By operation of this provision, the constitutional period for the presidential action expired on March 25, 2026 and the position is clear, definitive and not open to manipulation or administrative discretion, as the Bill in question is now statute barred,” he declared.
He cautioned that any attempt to grant assent outside the constitutional prescribed timeframe would amount to a direct violation of the Constitution and a dangerous precedent for the executive branch.
The Executive Director expressed his organization’s worries that reports from promoters of the Bill are actively seeking to bypass due process in order to influence the assent process, adding that such conduct is unacceptable and undermines the authority of the Constitution, thereby eroding public trust in democratic institutions.
While commenting on the Bill’s public hearing process at the National Assembly, the executive director said the Bill faced strong and consistent opposition from key Stakeholders within Nigeria’s security, regulatory and anti-corruption framework, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent and Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency and the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria.
He said the concerns raised were on the necessity, structure and potential implications of the proposed Institute, noting that the alignment of critical national institutions to the Bill served as a serious concern about its credibility and alignment with broader interests.
He also said the decision to proceed with the Bill passage after the objections calls for scrutiny as well as raises questions over legislative judgement. He however, expressed confidence in President Tinubu ‘s ability to do the needful as a leader who understands the weight of constitutional responsibility.
The executive director urged the president to decline his assent to the Bill and reject any form of pressure as well as advised the Bill’s promoters to return to the National Assembly and commence a fresh legislative process in full compliance with constitutional requirements and Stakeholders engagement.
