The House of Representatives has endorsed the establishment of the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) aimed at repositioning the Nigerian armed forces for service delivery.

Already, a bill aimed at achieving the goal, sponsored by Mr Babajimi Benson, has scaled the third reading stage in the lower legislative chamber.

The DRDB Governing Council consist of the 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.

Benson, who chairs the House Committee on Defence, explained that the Bureau would be headed by the DG not below the rank of Major-General or its equivalents in other services, whose appointment and removal from office, will be in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to the Council for approval. 

He further stated that the bill seeks to create a Bureau with the objectives to conduct and coordinate robust research and development in the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN); 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 as well as provide scientific and technical information to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and allies amongt others.

He added: “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; 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; conduct and sponsor studies and researches in military industrial production and related fields of studies amongst others.

“The HQ of the Bureau is designed to be in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the following shall consist of the Bureau’s HQ: Office of the Director-General (DG) and Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau; Directorate of Research; Directorate of Development and Production; Directorate of Test and Evaluation; Directorate of Liaison; Directorate of Administration and Logistics; Directorate of Finance and Accounts; Directorate of Legal Services and any other directorate as may be approved by the Council.”