President Bola Tinubu has stated that he will not give assent to the proposed Central Gaming Bill, maintaining that lottery and gaming matters fall under the constitutional authority of state governments.
The president made his position clear while addressing the National Assembly, where he expressed support for ongoing constitutional amendments to improve women’s representation in governance but firmly opposed efforts to centralise the regulation of lottery and gaming activities.
Tinubu argued that lottery and gaming are residual matters under the Nigerian Constitution and therefore lie outside the legislative competence of the federal government. He urged lawmakers to carefully review the Constitution, stressing that such regulatory powers belong exclusively to the states.
Describing himself as a “constitutional democrat,” the president said there was no justification for further debate on the issue, adding that he would not assent to any legislation seeking to place lottery or gaming regulation under federal control.
His remarks come two weeks after the National Assembly passed a bill seeking to repeal the National Lottery Act and replace it with the proposed Central Gaming Bill. The bill had passed its third reading and was expected to be forwarded to the president for assent.
The proposed legislation aimed to create a central regulatory framework for lottery and gaming nationwide. However, Tinubu’s position has effectively stalled the bill, reinforcing the constitutional role of states in regulating such activities.
