Senate passes start-up bill, others

The Senate has passed the Nigerian Start-up Bill, 2022.

The bill’s passage followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security on Wednesday.

In his presentation, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Oseni Yakubu of APC Kogi Central disclosed that the bill will create the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

According to him, the council, upon its establishment, would create and develop an enabling environment for technology-enabled start-ups in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, another bill for an act to provide for the ease of doing business to ensure transparency, efficiency, and productivity in Nigeria and for other related matters, scaled second reading in the house.

The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice of APC – Ondo North. After consideration, the bill was referred, by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Trade and Investment for further legislative input.

The committee was given two weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary. In another related development, another bill to establish the Federal Nephrology and Kidney Research and Treatment Centre Hadejia, also scaled the second reading on the floor.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Hassan Hadejia of APC – Jigawa North-East was referred, by Lawan, to the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).

The committee, led by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, was given four weeks to submit its report.