President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Defence Research and Development Bureau Bill into law.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Babajide Omoworare, confirmed the signing of the much anticipated bill in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
The bill on Defence Research and Development Bureau in the Armed Forces of Nigeria was passed by the National Assembly in 2022.
The Defence Research and Development Bureau (Establishment) Bill, which seeks to initiate new scientific, technological and environmental research on defence matters, was introduced to the National Assembly in December, 2020.
According to the legislative brief of the bill, the proposed Bureau will conduct and coordinate robust research and development in the armed forces.
The Bureau is to “crystallize the results of scientific and technical research on defence items and equipment for public and private institutions and provides scientific-technical information to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and allies amongst others.”
The Bureau is to be headed by someone, not below the rank of a major-general or its equivalents in other Services. And most have experience in shall be a person knowledgeable in the defence-related industries, who has demonstrated experience in engineering or science and technology.
The governing council of the body shall comprise; Minister of Defence as Chairman; Minister of Science and Technology; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy; Chief of the Defence Staff; Chief of Army Staff; Chief of Naval Staff; Chief of Air Staff; Director-General of the Bureau; Deputy Director Coordination of the Bureau as Secretary.”
It also seeks to facilitate collaboration with other national and international institutions in the promotion and transfer of science and technology relating to defence.
The bill was one of the two others passed by the National Assembly last year and transmitted to the President for assent.
But after critical analysis, President Buhari identified some fundamental issues which required fresh legislative action by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Following that, a technical committee of the Senate and House of Representatives as well as the Directorate of Legal Services of the National Assembly met and reworked the bill.
Accordingly, in April last year, the Senate, relying on order 1(b) and order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Order, 2022 as amended, rescinded its decision on the bill as passed and re-committed the same to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration and passage.
The Nigerian Military industry complex has been struggling for years, and aside from the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), there has been little in production of military equipment in the country. Nigeria relies heavily on the importation of equipment.