The Senate has passed two amendment bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s local manufacturing and processing industries and updating the country’s procurement laws to reflect international best practices.
The bills, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, were approved on Tuesday after lawmakers reconsidered them following President Bola Tinubu’s observations on the proposed legislation.
The bills are the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Moving the motion for reconsideration, Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, explained that the National Assembly had earlier passed the bills and forwarded them to the President for assent.
However, he said the Federal Ministry of Justice subsequently identified issues requiring further legislative review and clarification, prompting the President to return the bills to the lawmakers.
“The National Assembly had previously passed the bills and transmitted them to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent. However, the Federal Ministry of Justice subsequently identified fundamental issues that required further legislative consideration and clarification,” Bamidele said.
Following the reconsideration, the Senate examined the proposed amendments at the Committee of the Whole, approved the relevant provisions and completed the third-reading stage.
The amendment to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act seeks to strengthen the legal framework for protecting and developing Nigeria’s domestic manufacturing and processing industries.
The Senate approved Clauses 1 to 5, alongside the short title, explanatory memorandum and long title of the bill, in accordance with the committee’s recommendations.
The second legislation seeks to amend the law establishing the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria to accommodate developments in international procurement practices.
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Lawmakers also approved the clauses and long title of the procurement institute amendment bill as recommended by the Committee of the Whole.
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council amendment relates to the council’s enabling legislation, identified in the bill as Act No. 28 of 2022, while the procurement institute amendment concerns its establishment law, Act No. 21 of 2007.
After the consideration of both bills, the presiding officer sought confirmation from senators that the decisions taken reflected the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole. The lawmakers affirmed the decisions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently announced the passage of the two bills after their third readings.
The legislative action is expected to strengthen the frameworks governing local raw-material development and professional procurement practice, subject to the remaining constitutional steps required for the bills to become law.