Senate steps down Barau's Agricultural Revolution Bill over drafting, copies

The Senate on Tuesday stepped down the Agricultural Revolution Bill, 2026, after a heated debate over how it was drafted, how broad it is, and the failure to give lawmakers printed copies.

The bill, SB. 1082, is sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North). It seeks a legal framework to modernise Nigerian agriculture, improve food security, mechanisation, irrigation, financing and agro-processing.

The Senate Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), presented the bill on Barau's behalf. The motion for the second reading was moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, also on Barau's behalf, according to Punch.

Monguno said agriculture supports millions of Nigerians and accounts for about 70 per cent of employment and 40 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, according to Vanguard.

Monguno listed the sector's problems: low productivity, weak mechanisation, poor irrigation, high post-harvest losses, costly financing and insecurity in farming communities. He said these had fed food insecurity, inflation and poverty, and argued for a coordinated law instead of piecemeal interventions.

Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) seconded the motion, saying agriculture should be treated as a commercial venture, not mainly subsistence farming.

Why senators pushed back

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) called the bill's goals timely but said the document read more like a motion than a developed law. He said Nigerian farmers get two to three tonnes per hectare, compared with eight to 10 tonnes elsewhere.

This bill did not say it is creating an agency; this bill did not say it is amending existing agencies.

Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), who said he taught at an agricultural university for more than 25 years, warned that agriculture is too broad for one omnibus law. He said subsidies, mechanisation and irrigation each need targeted legislation.

There was also uproar over procedure. Some senators said they had not received printed copies, with shouts of "Show me a copy!" ringing out, according to Punch. Monguno said the bill had been gazetted and uploaded to the Senate's digital platform.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed that printed copies be provided. Barau then withdrew the bill, saying he would comply with the rules.

I am the Deputy Senate President, I will always want to please anyone to the best of my ability.

Akpabio confirmed the bill had been stepped down.

What happens next

The bill can return once printed copies are circulated to all senators. For ordinary Nigerians, the debate matters because food prices and farm productivity are daily concerns, and any new agriculture law would shape support for farmers, irrigation and storage.