Telecom
DPOs Advocate Single Regulatory Body for Data Protection Acts
Some Data Protection Officers (DPOs) have advocated a single regulatory body for Data Protection Acts, to sustain the already established confidence by investors in the country.
Participant and facilitators at a three- day workshop organised by Data and Knowledge Information Academy for Data Protection Officers in Lagos
The DPOs spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, on the sidelines of the 2nd edition of a training workshop for DPOs.
They spoke against the backdrop of Lagos state proposing a Data Protection Bill.
NAN reports that the three-day workshop, which is from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17, is organised by the Data and Knowledge Information Academy (DKIA), a subsidiary of Data & Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI).
NAN also report that the workshop is to prepare non-certified Data Protection Officers (DPO) for Nigeria Data Protection Certification Examination by Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Highlighting the benefits, the President of DKIPPI, Mr Tokunbo Smith, said that a single regulatory body, which is the NDPC for data protection acts rather than separate regulatory bodies, would streamline processes, reduce confusion and make it easier for businesses to operate.
Smith said that this would also help to protect data subject rights and maintain the principle of data protection.
He said that having a single regulator would also help to avoid legal issues and confusion around who collects what and when.
According to him, this approach will be similar to how the European Commission maintains one law regulating all European countries, and how China and South Africa have one regulator.
“This would help to create a more business friendly environment and attract investors, as they would only have to deal with one regulator.
“Also, when you look at it from the organisational aspect, most organisations are struggling, the economy is not good.
“This means we are creating a hostile environment for investors, because when investors come in, they are going to talk about their personal data and data subject as well,” he said.
According to Smith, if Europe cannot guarantee the personal data of a data subject from abroad, the country will lose investors.
Smith, also a Data Controller, said: “The best thing is for the one single regulator.
“They can have branches, regional branches, or state branches, that will now control the difference the states”.
Also, the Head, Research and Strategy, Nigeria Council of Real Estate Insurance Workers, Mrs Fadheelah Salam, affirmed that there should be a single regulatory body for data protection law.
Salam said that having different or states regulatory body would jeopardise the purpose of the one 18 months data protection law.
She said that not only would it erode inter and intra trade, but also promote underdevelopment of some state because some would eventually not implement the law.
According to her, NCDC is supposed to be the overall body that monitors all the states’ compliance to the NCDC Act, it can only have branch offices in each state for them to monitor implementation, advocacy and awareness.
Another participant of the training from Industrial General Insurance, Mr Sheriff Adeyeye, also advocated a single regulatory body for the NDPC acts, just as it is inheritance banking and insurance sector.
Adeyeye said that NDPC should be like the Central Bank of Nigeria, NDIC, that have branches in every state but have only one regulator because it is easier to monitor people’s activities that way.
“Take for instance, someone from Central Bank in another state could come to Lagos state to audit the banks because it is heading towards one direction, one goal which is easier.
“In this case, if there should be different regulators in each state, apparently there will be diversion from the main goal of the regulator and be uses as internally generated revenue by different states”.
Another participant from the Institute of Directors, Chucks Ezinmadu, said that there should be one regulator, simply because it is easier to manage and implement.
According to Ezinmadu, there is a reason the European Commission has one law regulating all the European countries, 26 countries countries coming together to adopt the General Data Protection Regulation.
He said same thing could be replicated in Nigeria to avoid some legal tussles within the state and Federal, as to who collects what and when.
Technology Company, Globacom, has announced significant reductions in its International Direct Dialing (IDD) rates, making international calls more affordable for its existing and new customers across Nigeria.
Effective August 10, the new rates began applying to over 15 popular international destinations, including United States which will has moved to ₦30 per minute, down from ₦35, United Kingdom is now N350 from ₦400, while India also moved down to ₦40 from N45.
The rates for China, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon however recorded major reduction moving to N75, N300 and ₦700 respectively.
The reduction was also extended to African countries including Benin Republic which goes for ₦650 per minute, Niger Republic ₦750, Ghana ₦500, and Togo ₦650. United Arab Emirates also moved from ₦450 to ₦325, Germany to ₦550, Côte d’Ivoire ₦700, Libya ₦700, while calls to Malawi is now N1,100 from ₦1,200.
Glo aims to provide more value for its customers through these revised rates, encouraging them to make Glo their preferred network for international calls. New IDD bundles will also be introduced, offering frequent international callers even more attractive deals.
Globacom, which remained optimistic that frequent international callers will benefit immensely from the reductions in IDD bundles, enjoined customers to take advantage of the new rates to stay connected with friends and business associates across the globe.
President Bola Tinubu has appointment members into the boards of the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Universal Service Provision Fund, both under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Idris Olorunnimbe was named Chairman of the NCC board, while Dr Aminu Wada will continue as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, a position he was appointed to in October 2023 and confirmed by the Senate the following month.
Onanuga said Olorunnimbe previously served on the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund Board, where he chaired the Stakeholder and Governance Committee.
Other NCC board members are Abraham Oshidami (Executive Commissioner, Technical Services), Rimini Makama (Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management), Hajia Maryam Bayi, Col Abdulwahab Lawal (retd.), Senator Lekan Mustafa, Chris Okorie, Princess Oforitsenere Emiko, and the board secretary.
The President also approved the board of the USPF, chaired by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, with Olorunnimbe as Vice Chairman.
Other members are Oshidami, Makama, Aliyu Edogi Aliyu (representative of FMCIDE), Joseph B. Faluyi (representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance), Auwal Mohammed (representative of FMBNP), Uzoma Dozie, Peter Bankole, Abayomi Anthony Okanlawon, Gafar Oluwasegun Quadri, and the USPF secretary.
See the statement below:
PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS BOARD MEMBERS FOR NCC AND USPF
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has constituted the boards of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), both agencies under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Idris Olorunnimbe was appointed Chairman of NCC, while Dr Aminu Waida remains its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer.
President Tinubu appointed Wada to the position in October 2023, and the Senate confirmed the appointment in November 2023.
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Mr. Olorunnimbe previously served on the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) Board, where he chaired the Stakeholder and Governance Committee and drove impactful youth employment and entrepreneurship programmes.
Other members of the board are:
1. Abraham Oshidami – Executive Commissioner, Technical Services
2. Rimini Makama – Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management
3. Hajia Maryam Bayi- Former Director, Human Capital & Administration
4. Col Abdulwahab Lawal (Rtd)
5. Senator Lekan Mustafa
6. Chris Okorie
7. Princess Oforitsenere Emiko
8. Secretary of the Board.
The President also approved the Board of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), with Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, as Chairman.
Other members are :
1. Idris Olorunimbe – Vice Chairman
2. Abraham Oshidami
3. Rimini Makama
4. Aliyu Edogi Aliyu – (Rep FMCIDE)
5. Joseph B Faluyi – (Rep. of Federal Ministry of Finance)
6. Auwal Mohammed – (Rep. of FMBNP)
7. Uzoma Dozie
8. Peter Bankole
9. Abayomi Anthony Okanlawon
10. Gafar Oluwasegun Quadri and the
11. USPF Secretary
The Federal Government established the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and service to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in rural, unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria.
Anambra State ICT Agency has restated its commitment to creating a digitally inclusive environment where Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) can access and benefit from government services without barriers.
Speaking when the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ADRC), in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme, paid an advocacy visit to his office, the Managing Director/CEO of the ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, underscored the Soludo administration’s determination to make governance work for all, including PWDs.
Mr. Agbata noted that intentional inclusion is a key part of the Governor’s technology-driven vision for the state which is why the commission recently received a wide range of digital tools to enhance their productivity.
“Technology is only truly impactful when it works for everyone, regardless of physical ability.
We are committed to removing digital barriers and making our platforms accessible to all residents of Anambra State,” he said.
CFA also disclosed that the Agency will take immediate steps to appoint a Disability Desk Officer, work with the commission to ensure that all government ICT platforms are designed to meet accessibility standards, and as well as incorporate PWD-friendly features into ongoing upgrades of the SolutionLens feedback platform.
The visit also featured presentations from ADRC’s Head of ICT, Mr. Bonaventure Umeokwonna, who outlined the Commission’s priorities, and RoLAC representatives, who pledged continued support for building capacity and strengthening the policy framework for inclusion.
Mr. Valentine Nwachukwu, Head of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Commission, gave the vote of thanks, commending the ICT Agency’s openness to collaboration.
The Anambra State ICT Agency continues to work closely with ministries, departments, and agencies to deepen digital transformation in the state, ensuring that no segment of society is left behind.
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