Tinubu made the request in a letter dated November 12 and
read by Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, during plenary on Tuesday.

The president said the bill should be stepped down to allow
for more consultations.

“I write to refer to the Cocoa Management Board
Establishment Bill 2025 earlier transmitted to the senate and to request the
distinguished senate president and distinguished senators to kindly stand down
the legislative actions on the bill. This is to enable further consultations,”
the letter reads.

Tinubu thanked the lawmakers for their cooperation and
conveyed what he called his “highest consideration”.

Akpabio stepped down the bill “in line with the presidential
request”.

Tinubu had earlier sent a letter to the senate on November
10, transmitting the National Cocoa Board Establishment Bill 2025 for
consideration.

He said the proposed board would strengthen coordination of
the cocoa value chain.

Tinubu said the board would also improve standards and
bolster Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global cocoa economy.