Tinubu's Authority to Modify Laws Confirmed by Pinheiro

On Tuesday, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Pinheiro, stated that President Tinubu has the constitutional power to modify existing laws to ensure compliance with the 1999 Constitution. This statement comes in response to the controversy surrounding an executive order issued by the President that halted oil revenue deductions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The order has faced sharp criticism from stakeholders, including the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, who accused the President of violating the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act regarding revenue retention. In defense of the executive order, the President's special adviser argued that critics misinterpret the constitutional hierarchy of laws, citing Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution.

Pinheiro emphasized that while the executive order cannot override acts of Parliament, it serves as a binding directive for state governors and agencies to implement policies in line with existing laws.