The Nigerian Senate cleared two legislative amendments on Tuesday intended to strengthen domestic production capabilities and modernize purchasing norms. Punch reported that Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele sponsored the measures, which address both raw material development and professional procurement standards. The specific legislation includes revisions to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act and the law establishing the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria.
According to Punch, the process required reconsideration because President Bola Tinubu had previously sent the bills back to the legislature with specific observations. Bamidele stated that the Federal Ministry of Justice identified fundamental issues needing further clarification after the initial transmission for presidential assent. The Senate Leader noted that the President’s return included necessary amendments to resolve these identified gaps before the laws could take effect.
The first amendment modifies the enabling law for the raw materials council, originally enacted as Act No. 28 of 2022. Lawmakers approved the proposed clauses to provide stronger provisions for protecting and developing local manufacturing and processing industries. This legislative move aims to directly support Nigeria’s domestic industrial growth by updating the legal framework governing raw-material development.
The second amendment updates the establishment law for the purchasing institute, originally enacted as Act No. 21 of 2007. The changes are designed to reflect recent developments in professional procurement practices seen globally. The Senate considered both bills in the Committee of the Whole, where members approved the provisions and completed the third-reading stage. Senators confirmed that the final decisions accurately reflected the committee’s proceedings.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio formally announced the passage of the bills after their third readings. Punch noted that these updates will revise the legal structures governing local raw-material development and professional buying practices. The former focuses on supporting domestic industrial expansion, while the latter accommodates shifts in international procurement standards.