The Senate, Nigeria’s upper legislative body has passed the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency NPERA, Bill, thus ending several weeks and months of stakeholders’ anxiety over the fate of the bill, which had been under legislative processes for some time now.

Recall that both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the lower legislative chamber had late last year passed the bill, which was promptly transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

The President had however returned the bill to the National Assembly, when it was discovered during review process that certain provisions conflicted with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act NTAA, 2025.

It was gathered that the eventual passage of the bill followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central and seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro representing Benue South.

It was further learnt that following the return of the bill by the President, the Senators had rescinded their earlier decision on the bill and commenced a fresh consideration, leading to its eventual passage.

The Senate Leader had also informed the lawmakers during the Committee stage of the bill’s passage that following critical examination by the Ministry of Justice, fundamental issues were identified, which included the fact that some sections of the bill conflicted with the newly passed Tax law, a development that made fresh legislative action imperative.

He disclosed that a technical committee comprising members drawn from both chambers of the National Assembly and legal drafting experts from the Directorate of Legal Services reconvened to begin fresh legislative work on the bill.

According to him, the technical committee was mandated to resolve the issues raised after the detailed scrutiny of the bill and recommend necessary corrections for legislative reconsideration, which also required the Senate its earlier legislative action on the bill.

In rescinding their earlier decision on the bill as previously passed, the lawmakers relied on Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders. The entire Senate having rescinded its earlier action on the bill, committee subsequently recommitted to the bill for comprehensive consideration, for amendment and passage, in line with legislative procedures.

The lawmakers at the Committee subsequently considered and passed the bill clause by clause after serious deliberation, which led to its eventual passage.

It was further learnt that following the return of the bill by the President, the House of Representatives had last year, corrected the conflicting areas as the revised version awaited concurrence by the Senate.   

Stakeholders expect that with the concurrence by the Senate, the new bill will be transmitted to the President for assent, as the new legislation is expected to provide the statutory foundation and regulatory framework to strengthen the Nigerian Shippers Council as the country’s port economic regulator and further reposition the Council for its expanded mandate.