President Buhari Signs NDDC Bill, 5 Others into law

– NDDC bill enlists gas producing and gas processing companies as contributors to the NDDC in order to increase sources of funds for the commission

Buhari signs 6 bills into law

President Muhammadu Buhari has assented six bills into law.

The bills which had recently been passed by the National Assembly was signed by the President on Friday.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, revealed this to the press after President Buhari had given his assent to the bills at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Enang said, one of the bills signed into law include the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 and Anti-Torture Act, 2017.

Buhari’s aide stated that the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, made provision for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots and for related matters.

He said, “Specifically, the Act stipulates that a person with a gunshot wound shall be received for immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria with or without initial monetary deposit.

“Furthermore, a person with a gunshot wound shall not be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment or torture by any person or authority, including the police and other security agencies.

“Anti-Torture Act, 2017 makes comprehensive provisions for penalising the acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and prescribes penalties for the commission of such acts.”

Another bill assented by Buhari is the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Amendment Act, 2017, Enang noted.

The bill lists gas producing and gas processing companies as contributors to the NDDC in order to increase sources of funds for the commission.

President Buhari also signed into law, the bill authorising the Federal Capital Territory administration to legally and legitimately provide funds from its statutory revenue fund for recurrent and capital expenditure.

The bill confirming the establishment of the FCT Water Board, the National Institute for Cancer Research was also assented by the President.