The Copyright (Repeal) Act 2022 and one other bill which emanated from the National Assembly have been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Nigerian leader also signed the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos Act, 2023 into law.
This was revealed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila in a statement released on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
He said the president signed the bills on March 17.
The SSA to the president said the new act shows the commitment of the president to supporting creative economy and fostering global achievements in the digital and age.
“The principal objectives of the new law, as outlined in section 1 are to: protect the rights of authors and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts; provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works; facilitate Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and conventions; and enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective regulation, administration, and enforcement”, he said.
He said the new acts elaborates the author’s rights, and provide penalty for criminal infringements and “more adequately addresses the challenges posed by digital and online use of copyright works.”
“The Act also provides specially for the needs blind, visually impaired and print disabled persons to have access to learning and reading materials in accessible formats”, he said.