Senate repasses two bills Tinubu returned over legal concerns

The Senate on Tuesday passed two amendment bills for a second time, after President Bola Tinubu returned them with observations. The bills cover raw materials research and procurement practice.

The two 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. Both were sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central.

According to Bamidele, the National Assembly had earlier passed the bills and sent them to the President. He said the Federal Ministry of Justice then flagged issues that needed more legislative work and clarification, and the President sent the bills back with his observations.

What the bills change

The raw materials bill amends the council's law, listed as Act No. 28 of 2022. Bamidele said it is meant to protect and grow Nigeria's local manufacturing and processing industries.

The procurement bill amends the institute's establishment law, Act No. 21 of 2007. It is meant to bring the law in line with how professional purchasing and supply practice has changed internationally.

The Nation reported that a technical committee, made up of members of both chambers and legal drafting experts, looked at the President's concerns. Bamidele said the review was needed to make sure the wording was legally clear and consistent before the bills were passed again.

The Senate first rescinded its earlier decisions on the bills and sent them back to the Committee of the Whole. Lawmakers then went through them clause by clause and adopted the recommended changes.

For the raw materials bill, the Senate approved Clauses 1 to 5, the short title, the explanatory memorandum and the long title. It also approved the clauses and long title of the procurement bill, as recommended by the committee.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the passage of both bills after their third readings.

Why it matters

The raw materials bill touches the council that supports research into inputs used by local factories. If it works as intended, it could help businesses that process goods in Nigeria rather than import finished products.

The procurement bill affects the professional body for people who buy goods and services for government and companies. Supporters say clearer rules could make purchasing more transparent and in line with global standards.

The Nation reported that the bills will now go through the necessary legislative processes after the Senate's passage. Neither source said what those steps are or when they will happen.