President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned the National Assembly (NASS) to stay away from attempts to centralize the lottery and other gambling games in the country, through the Central Gambling Bill, and vowed not to grant presidential assent to the bill.
The President said this on Thursday while addressing the meeting of the National Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a residual matter that the National Assembly should not address closely.
Online tribune They gathered that the Central Gaming Bill, 2025 is legislation passed by the Senate that seeks to create a single national regulatory framework for all online and remote gaming activities.
However, the Attorney Generals of Lagos and 22 other states have continued to object to the passage of the bill, describing it as a state-level matter and any action would amount to a violation of the Supreme Court, in its landmark judgment delivered on October 13, 2024, in suit No. SC/1/2008 – AG Lagos State & 22 Ors v. AG Fed & 13 Ors.
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According to the states, the Supreme Court had clearly ruled that lotteries, betting and games of chance are residual matters falling within the exclusive legislative jurisdiction of the states, except in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking on the possibility of the National Assembly sending the bill for approval, Tinubu said: “What I want you to forget is a centralized lottery, go and read the constitution again. It is a residual issue. It belongs to the exclusive legislative list of the states. Don’t go near it, there is no need for us to argue. I am a constitutional democrat, I read it was coming, I will not sign it.”