The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Nigeria Startup Bill passed by the National Assembly, in furtherance of Section 58 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The President sent the Nigeria Startup Act to the National Assembly on March 22, 2022, to establish the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Act provides a legal, institutional framework and enabling environment for the creation, establishment, growth, development and operation of technology-enabled talents, excellent innovators with cutting-edge skills and exportable capacity in the startup ecosystem in Nigeria, with a view to ultimately consolidating Nigeria as the leading digital technology centre in Africa.
Among other things, the Act provides for the formal labelling of a startup outfit whose objects include innovation and development of digital technology products or processes; provision of startup investment seed fund; training, capacity building and talent development; tax and fiscal incentives; establishment of accelerators and incubators programs; and establishment of clusters, hubs, innovation parks and technology development zones.
The President also gave his assent to five other bills. The bills are:
- Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo; (Establishment) Bill, 2022
2. Orthopedic Hospital Act; Orthopaedic Management Board (Amendment) Bill, 2022
3. Federal Medical Centre Act; Federal Medical Centres (Establishment) Bill 2022
4. Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Establishment) Bill, 2022 Health Sciences Bill and
5. Chartered Institute of Professional Secretariat Staff of Nigeria Bill, 2022
The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo; the Act establishes the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo as a training institution for the development of medical and health sciences and makes comprehensive provisions for the management and administration of the university.
The Orthopaedic Hospital Act; amends the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act Cap. 010 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for the establishment of the Orthopaedic Hospital Azare, Borno State under the control of the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board and affiliated to the University of Teaching Hospital to provide specialized orthopaedic treatment and medical services.
The Federal Medical Centre Act; establishes the Federal Medical Centres, and provides the legal framework for their due management and administration.
The Federal College of Complimentary and Alternative Medicines Act; establishes the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine of Nigeria Abuja and makes comprehensive provisions for this administration.
The Chartered Institute of Professional Secretariat Staff of Nigeria Act; establishes the Chartered Institute of Professional Secretariat Staff of Nigeria Charged with the responsibility among others to determine and regulate the standard of knowledge, skills and qualifications of persons seeking to become professional secretarial staff in Nigeria.
Signed:
Senator Babajide Omoworare CON
Senior Special Assistant to The President on National Assembly Matters-Senate
October 20, 2022
