The federal government has directed regulators to postpone the implementation of new regulations for internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues pending the development of a harmonised national policy framework.
Bosun Tijani, minister of communications and innovation and
digital economy, gave the directive following a strategic meeting with the
leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National
Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data
Protection Commission (NDPC).
In a statement on Tuesday, Tijani said the affected agencies
would defer the implementation or enforcement of recently issued regulations,
guidelines, codes and directives relating to internet platforms and other
issues currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation.
“The existing regulatory status quo shall be maintained with
respect to matters relating to Internet platforms, online intermediaries and
other cross-cutting digital economy issues currently undergoing inter-agency
policy harmonisation under the Ministry’s coordination,” the statement reads.
“Relevant agencies are to defer the implementation or
enforcement of any recently issued regulation, code, guideline, framework,
directive or administrative requirement relating to Internet platforms, online
intermediaries or other cross-cutting digital economy matters, to the extent
that such provisions concern areas currently undergoing policy harmonisation
under the Ministry’s coordination.
“The above direction is without prejudice to the statutory
responsibilities of the respective institutions. Accordingly, all other
provisions of existing regulations, guidelines, codes and directives that fall
squarely within the express mandates of the relevant agencies under extant laws
shall remain fully operational and enforceable, provided they are consistent
with the policy direction issued by the Honourable Minister.”
Tijani also said Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy
had created areas where the responsibilities of sector regulators increasingly
overlap.
“The convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms,
artificial intelligence, online safety and data governance requires a
coordinated whole-of-government approach to policy development and
implementation,” the minister said.
He said regulatory coordination was necessary to provide
certainty for investors and operators while supporting innovation across the
digital economy.
“Regulatory coordination is not only essential to preserving
legal certainty but is also fundamental to promoting investment, innovation,
consumer confidence and Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness as Africa’s leading
digital economy,” he said.
‘MINISTRY TO ESTABLISH JOINT COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP
HARMONISED FRAMEWORK’
As part of the directive, the minister said it would
establish a joint technical coordination committee comprising representatives
of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC to coordinate stakeholder consultations and develop
recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework.
He said the framework would clarify the responsibilities of
the three agencies, reduce regulatory overlap and compliance uncertainty,
strengthen investor confidence and support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming
Africa’s leading digital economy.
The ministry reaffirmed that the objective of the
harmonisation exercise is not to diminish the statutory mandates of any
institution but to ensure that government speaks with one coherent voice on
cross-cutting digital economy issues through a coordinated, predictable and
future-ready regulatory framework.
The directive comes less than 24 hours after President Bola
Tinubu directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
(FCCPC) to investigate major technology companies and generative artificial
intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and
the exploitation of Nigerian media content.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com