The Senate has considered for Second Reading ‘A Bill for an Act to establish the National Agricultural Credit Fund to Promote Commercial Agriculture in Nigeria.’

According to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, “This bill, if passed and signed into law, will address the current lack of legal frameworks that limit funds meant for farming going to actual farmers. The Credit Fund will also help ensure that local farmers are provided with implementable business plans and are linked to larger companies that will purchase their products. Furthermore, it will also help in the transition of seeing agriculture as a business, not just a social development program, as there will be clearly spelt out criteria for benefits, and fund administrators to guide the disbursement of the loans”.

Saraki further added that the Report of the Joint Committees on Police Affairs, National Security, and Intelligence, in respect of the unfortunate recurrence of kidnapping and hostage-taking in the country has also been considered. The Senate Report however recommends a “reappraisal of our intelligence gathering methods, a focus on community policing and information sharing between security agencies to curb the rate of kidnappings across the country”.

Other crucial bills presented at the Senate for First Reading were: The Sexual harassment in Tertiary Institutions Bill (2016) SB. 262 by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central); and The Payment Systems Management Bill (2016) SB. 268 by Senator John O. Enoh (Cross River Central).