A bill for an Act to establish the Industrial Property Commission scaled the second reading at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to establish a body to be called the Industry Property Commission that would take over the functions of the registration of trademarks, patents designs, plants’ varieties, animal breeders and farmers’s rights.

It also seeks to supervise the new registries created under the property industry.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Rep. Sadiq Mohammed (PDP-Kogi), said the aim of the bill was to ensure that a commission that carries out similar functions like the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), was created to supervise the administration of industrial properties in the country.

He said the passage of the proposed legislation would guarantee the rapid development of industrial property.

Mohammed explained that the bill would also ensure effective documentation of data.

He maintained that the passage of the piece of legislation would ensure that people had easy access to practices in intellectual property industry.

The lawmaker urged his colleagues to support the bill to be in conformity with what was obtainable in advanced countries.

Rep. Mohammed Monguno (ANPP-Borno), in support of the bill, said the knowledge that there is a Commission would boost the morale of researchers to have their works registered.

He said the bill was in conformity with the agenda of the Federal Government in transforming the Agricultural sector.

Reps. Betty Apiafi (PDP-Rivers), Chris Etta (PDP – Cross/River), Micheal Opeyemi (ACN – Ekiti), supported the second passage of the bill, saying the legislation would generate ideas on how to develop the intellectual property.

“Ideas are nurtured and developed, ideas are what make a nation grow and develop,’’ the lawmakers said.

The bill scaled through second reading when put to vote by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, and referred to the Committees on Commerce and Justice for further inputs.