By NEFISETU YAKUBU

The Senate on Tuesday passed the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, 2026 during plenary in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the passage of the bill followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and seconded by the Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro (Benue South).

The lawmakers had, before consideration, rescinded their earlier decision on the bill, as previously passed and transmitted to the president for assent.

At the Committee of the Whole, Opeyemi informed the senate that following critical examination by the Ministry of Justice, fundamental issues were identified requiring fresh legislative action.

He stated that a technical committee comprising the senate, House of Representatives and legal drafting experts from the Directorate of Legal Services had convened.

The committee, he said, was mandated to resolve the issues raised after the detailed scrutiny of the bill and recommend necessary corrections for legislative reconsideration.

Relying on Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, the lawmakers rescinded their earlier decision on the bill, as previously passed.

The committee, thereafter, recommitted the bill to the Committee of the Whole for comprehensive consideration, amendment and passage, in line with legislative procedures.

At the Committee of the Whole, the lawmakers subsequently considered and passed the bill clause by clause after exhaustive deliberation.

In a related development, the senate also passed the National Food Reserve Agency (Establishment) Bill 2026, National Cassava Policy Coordination Council Bill and National Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2026.

The passage of the three bills followed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, chaired by Sen Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central).

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has forwarded 15 nominees of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), chaired by Dr Salamatu Suleiman, for confirmation.

NAN reports that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, referred the list of nominees to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters with a mandate to revert to the senate within two weeks. (NAN)