- The Supreme Court has nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 that was enacted by the National Assembly
- By virtue of the judgment, the Supreme Court verdict automatically scrapped the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC)
- According to the Supreme Court, the National Assembly overstepped because the legislation on lottery and games of chance remained the legislative right of the state House of Assemblies
The Supreme Court has made a landmark decision, nullifying the National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assembly. In a unanimous judgment, a seven-member panel of the apex court held that the National Assembly overstepped its bounds by legislating on lottery and games of chance. According to the court, only state Houses of Assembly possess the exclusive jurisdiction to regulate these activities.
The lead judgment, delivered on Friday, November 22, by Justice Mohammed Idris, emphasized that the National Lottery Act 2005 should no longer be enforced in all states except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This is because the National Assembly is only empowered to make laws for the FCT.
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Supreme Court judgment favours Lagos
According to The Nation, the judgment is a significant victory for Lagos and other states that filed the suit in 2008, challenging the National Assembly’s powers to regulate lottery and games of chance.
The National Lottery Act 2005 was enacted to regulate lottery operations in Nigeria, but the court’s decision has rendered it ineffective. The Act established the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to oversee lottery operations, but its powers have now been curtailed. The NLRC’s functions include issuing licenses, regulating lottery games, and ensuring transparency and accountability in the industry.
The implications of the Supreme Court’s judgment are far-reaching. It means that state Houses of Assembly will now have the power to regulate lottery and games of chance within their jurisdictions. This could lead to a more decentralized approach to lottery regulation, with states having more control over the industry.
LG Autonomy: Governors Warned Over Supreme Court Judgment
Legit.ng earlier reported that the 36 Nigerian governors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Governors Forum have been warned against undermining the Supreme Court verdict on local government autonomy.
NULGE, in a statement on Thursday, November 7, alleges that some governors are not ready to comply with the Supreme Court judgment.
The group warned that any attempt to downplay the judgment on the local government autonomy would be faced with stiff restrictions.
Source: Legit.ng