By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Startup Bill 2022, which seeks to create and develop an enabling environment for technology-enabled startups in the country, has been passed by the Senate.
The piece of legislature was passed by the upper chamber of the National Assembly on Wednesday, July 20 following a report by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity.
Presenting the report, Mr Oseni Yakubu, the Chairman of the panel, said that the bill sought to establish the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
According to Mr Yakubu, the council would create and develop an enabling environment for technology-enabled startups in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Startup Bill started as a joint initiative by the nation’s tech startup ecosystem and the Presidency to harness the potential of Nigeria’s digital economy through co-created regulations.
The bill, when assented to by the president and codified, will ensure that Nigeria’s laws and regulations are clear, planned, and work for the tech ecosystem.
Also at Wednesday’s plenary, a bill for an act to provide for ease of doing business to ensure transparency, efficiency, and productivity in Nigeria and for other related matters passed second reading.
The bill was sponsored by Mr Ajayi Boroffice, deputy Senate leader, the lawmaker representing Ondo North.
The bill, after consideration, was referred by Senate President Ahmad Lawan to the committee on trade and investment for further legislative input.
The Senate gave the committee two weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.
Similarly, a bill to establish the Federal Nephrology and Kidney Research and Treatment Centre Hadejia, also scaled second reading.
The bill, sponsored by Mr Hassan Ibrahim Hadejia, Jigawa north-east, was referred to the committee on health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative input.
The committee is expected to send its report to the Senate in four weeks.
Modupe Gbadeyanka