Reps pass bill to establish agency to ‘coordinate research in military equipment production’

The house of representatives has passed a bill seeking to establish the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB).

The report on the bill was adopted on Thursday after Babajimi Benson, chairman of committee on defence, moved a motion for the consideration of its 34 clauses at the “committee of the whole” presided over by Idris Wase, deputy speaker of the house.

Nigeria depends on developed countries like the US, for importation of military equipment.

In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum of $1 billion for the procurement of security equipment to fight insurgents.

But Benson, who is the sponsor of the bill, said the bureau will coordinate research which will lead to the development of defence equipment in the country.

In his explanatory memorandum, the lawmaker said the proposed legislation also seeks to establish a fund to be appropriated by the national assembly to enable the conduct of “robust research and development in the armed forces of Nigeria”.

He said a governing council of the bureau will be established with the minister of defence as chairman, while the minister of communication and digital economy, chief of the defence staff, and chief of army staff will be members.

According to Benson, other members of the council will include the minister of science and technology, chief of naval staff, chief of air staff, director-general of the bureau, while the deputy director of coordination of the bureau will be the secretary.

The lawmaker said the bureau will “coordinate the research and development efforts of the three services of the Nigerian armed forces, crystallise the results of scientific and technical research on defence items and equipment for public and private institutions”.

“The functions of the bureau are to enter into such agreement, liaisons, memoranda of understanding, cooperation, partnership, etc., with such institutions, agencies, corporations, etc., as may be necessary from time to time or desirable, subject to the approval of the governing council,” he added.

Benson explained that the bureau will be “responsible for the discipline and welfare of its personnel, deal with matters relating to the discipline of military personnel in the bureau, according to the armed forces act”.

He said when passed into law, the military will be able to “conduct and sponsor studies and researches in military industrial production and related fields of studies, among others”.

In line with parliamentary procedure, the bill will have to be read the third time, after which it would be sent to the senate for concurrence.