Senate passes Bills to boost local manufacturing

The Senate has passed two amendment bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s local manufacturing and processing industries and improving professional standards in procurement.

The bills were 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.

The bills were passed during plenary after the Senate rescinded its earlier decisions on them and recommitted them to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who moved the motion for reconsideration, said the bills had previously been passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

He explained that the Federal Ministry of Justice had subsequently identified fundamental issues that required further legislative consideration and clarification.

According to him, the President returned the bills to the National Assembly with observations for reconsideration and necessary amendments.

He explained that the Raw Materials Research and Development Council amendment was designed to protect and develop Nigeria’s local manufacturing and processing industries. BuyMaps

He added that the amendment to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria Act sought to accommodate developments in global procurement practices.

Bamidele said a technical committee comprising representatives of both chambers of the National Assembly and legal drafting experts had examined the issues raised in the President’s observations.

He said the review was necessary to ensure legal clarity, consistency and proper drafting before the bills were passed.

Following the adoption of the motion, the Senate rescinded its earlier decisions on the two bills and recommitted them to the Committee of the Whole.

The lawmakers subsequently considered the bills clause by clause and adopted the recommended amendments.

The Senate then approved the bills for third reading, after which they were read for the third time and passed.

The legislative action is expected to strengthen the legal frameworks governing raw materials research and development, local industrial production and professional procurement practice.

The bills will now proceed through the necessary legislative processes following their passage by the Senate.