Senate passes bill to establish Agricultural Development Fund
PRESS STATEMENT
Senate Passes Bill To Establish Agricultural Development Fund
The Senate, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, passed a Bill to establish the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).
The passage of the Bill followed the consideration of a motion for re-commital of the National Agricultural Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2022.
The motion was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North).
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, in his presentation, recalled that both chambers of the National Assembly passed the National Agricultural Development Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2022, and transmitted same to the President for assent.
He noted that after critical examination of the Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, some fundamental issues which required fresh Legislative action on some Clauses were observed.
He explained that against the backdrop, a Technical Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives met and worked on the affected Clauses of the Bill, “desirous of the need to assess the observations by the Committee and make necessary amendments.”
Accordingly, the Upper Legislative Chamber rescinded its decision on the affected Clauses of the Bill as passed and re-committed same to the Committee of the Whole for re-consideration and passage.
The Bill was passed by the Chamber after the affected Clauses were re-considered by the Committee of the Whole.
In a related development, a total of three Bills scaled second reading during Plenary same Tuesday.
The Bills are for an Act to provide for the Facilitation and Co-ordination of Public Infrastructure Development; to amend the Provisions of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act; and to Repeal the Quarantine Act and Enact the National Health Emergency Act.
The Bills were sponsored by Senators Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North); Uche Lilian Ekwunife (Anambra Central); and Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North).
The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central), who presided over Plenary, referred the Bills after debate on the general principles of each of the legislation to the Committees on National Planning; Trade and Investment; Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases.
The Committees were given four weeks to report back to the Chamber in Plenary.
Signed:
Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, FAI, FIMC, CMC, FCP, Fsca
Special Assistant (Press)
To President of the Senate
Tuesday, March 22, 2022.