• Latest
  • Trending
ICT Media Chiefs Launch Foundation to Drive Advocacy, Development

Group Calls on National Assembly to Reconsider NITDA Bill

January 11, 2023
Google Invests $300m in Anthropic As Large Media Agencies Focus and Invest in AI Powered Advertising

Google Invests $300m in Anthropic As Large Media Agencies Focus and Invest in AI Powered Advertising

February 7, 2023
China Accelerates Generative AI Quest With ‘Ernie Bot’ Launch

China Accelerates Generative AI Quest With ‘Ernie Bot’ Launch

February 7, 2023
Nairagram To Boost Fund Transfer In Africa With Tempo France Partnership

Nairagram To Boost Fund Transfer In Africa With Tempo France Partnership

February 7, 2023
Hope PSB Backs CBN Cashless Drive With Rural Initiative

Hope PSB Backs CBN Cashless Drive With Rural Initiative

February 7, 2023
FG Awards Zinox Technologies Over N85bn 2023 Digital Census Contract

FG Awards Zinox Technologies Over N85bn 2023 Digital Census Contract

February 6, 2023
Pantami Harps of Harnessing Potentials In The 4IR Through Proactive Policies

Pantami Harps of Harnessing Potentials In The 4IR Through Proactive Policies

February 6, 2023
Nigeria And Niger Republic Seek Ways To Prevent Boarder Frequency Conflict

Nigeria And Niger Republic Seek Ways To Prevent Boarder Frequency Conflict

February 6, 2023
2023 Elections: New Horizon Boss Tasks INEC On Stress Test On BVAS

2023 Elections: New Horizon Boss Tasks INEC On Stress Test On BVAS

February 6, 2023
FPG And FICO Join Technology To Accelerate Digital Transformation In West Africa

FPG And FICO Join Technology To Accelerate Digital Transformation In West Africa

February 6, 2023
CBN U-Turn on OTC payment To Douse Tension in Banking Sector

CBN U-Turn on OTC payment To Douse Tension in Banking Sector

February 3, 2023

Valentine: Konga Rolls Out Free Movie Date For Lovers, Other Mouthwatering Deals

February 3, 2023
Tech Jobs: 2,000 To Go At Online Payment Firm, PayPal

Tech Jobs: 2,000 To Go At Online Payment Firm, PayPal

February 3, 2023
EBusiness Life
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Newsletter
Contact Us
  • Home
  • NewsBytes
    • Agrictech
    • Cybersecurity
    • e-Politics
    • Entertainment
    • Fintech
    • Foreign News
    • Local News
    • Social Media
    • StartUps
    • State News
  • Big Issues
  • Columns
    • Contributions
    • eScope
    • Inside Issues
  • Cyberparenting
  • Tech Talk
    • Innovations
    • World of Sc & Tech
  • Gadget Review
    • Phones
    • Laptops
    • Accessories
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • PhotoNews
  • Archives
  • Digital Edition
No Result
View All Result
E-Business Life
No Result
View All Result

Group Calls on National Assembly to Reconsider NITDA Bill

by Admin
January 11, 2023
in NewsBytes
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0

Cloud Network Foundation (CNF) has called on the National Assembly to reconsider the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Bill 2022,

currently under consideration, in the interest of national development. The Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, was formed by Nigeria’s pioneer ICT publishers, editors, and entrepreneurs to advance the growth and development of the ICT industry and the country’s economy in general.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Google Invests $300m in Anthropic As Large Media Agencies Focus and Invest in AI Powered Advertising

China Accelerates Generative AI Quest With ‘Ernie Bot’ Launch

CNF made the call after carefully ex-raying the bill clause-by-clause as presented to the lawmakers by the Director-General of NITDA, Mr Inuwa Kashifu.

A statement by the CNF’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ayo Makinde, quoted the Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Abimbola Tooki, saying that “the NITDA Bill conflicts with the functions of the National Communications Act 2003 in over nine sections and 24 areas and if allowed to pass, would invoke unnecessary conflicts and chaos in the industry.”

Mr. Tooki added: “There are potential retrogression and unintended consequences to the gains already recorded in the ICT ecosystem over two decades, should the Bill be entertained any further.”

Pointedly, Section 1, which sets out the objectives of the Bill, the CNF statement explains, lays the premise for converting the NITDA from an IT agency to a regulatory authority in contravention and duplicity of the mandate of the NCA 2003 currently operated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“Today, there is convergence in the ICT ecosystem such that it is difficult to delineate what constitutes digital services, infrastructure and platforms. The same digital services and platforms that the NITDA Bill seeks to regulate are already under the regulatory jurisdiction of the NCC.

“The Foundation is also concerned that the ICT industry is being overburdened with taxation, such that if the new NITDA Bill goes through, it will impose a new regime of tax on the ICT industry which will, in turn, be passed unto consumers in the form of an increase in tariffs on products and services,” the statement added.

Noting that ICT and the digital ecosystem in Nigeria comprise Data Protection, Broadcasting, Content Regulation, Telecommunications, Cybersecurity, Competition, Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence, most of which sectors have governing and enabling laws with agencies to execute them, Cloud Network Foundation, therefore, calls for an all-encompassing perspective to a law for an ICT clearing house in the country.

The Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (“NDPR”) 2019, Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, National Broadcasting Commission Act (“NBC Act”) 1999 (from which the National Broadcasting Commission Code, the “NBC Code” is derived), National Film and Video Censors Board Act (NFVCB, 1993), Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (“NCA”), Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (“the WT Act”), Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, Terrorism (Prevention and

Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (“FCCPA”) are some of the laws that already operate within the ecosystem and enabled the creation of some agencies such as the NCC, FCCPC, NBC, etc.

Therefore, a law on ICT and the digital ecosystem in Nigeria should be inter-ministerial and not the brainchild of just one ministry, department or agency, the Foundation advised.

“The tremendous potential and vision of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of 2022 are not lost on us, which far-reaching effects of its 8-point pillar further buttress the need for a holistic look at the entire ecosystem, which comprises the Federal Ministries of Communications and Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Information and Culture, Budget, Finance and National Planning, among others.

“It is the opinion of the Cloud Network Foundation that the NCC should be allowed to maintain its regulatory independence for which it has been renowned and applauded internationally, along with other agencies in the ecosystem. Encroaching the functions of any existing agency set up by law without repealing or amending the law is bound to create conflicts in the ecosystem, with extensive consequences for the nation.

“This will not only jolt investors and distort the market structure but can lead to numerous regulatory oversights and lack of coordination. Therefore, the impact could have monumental effects fundamental to market sustenance and deepening the sector’s gains that have twice drawn Nigeria out of recession in the last six years.

“Our position is that the Draft Bill should be stepped down and reconsidered because some of the matters it seeks to legislate on are already addressed by the NCA 2003 as Nigeria’s sole and exclusive regulator of communications services, as well as other already existing legislations governing the sector.

“There are only two pathways opened to NITDA in our view: grow its capacity in the original mandate to develop information technology, drive skills building and standardise the deployment of IT tools in the public sector, or completely overhaul the bill with massive inter-ministerial consultations to establish a clearing house for Nigeria’s ICT/Digital economy sector,” the CNF further stated.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
ShareTweetSendShareShareBookmark

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent News

Google Invests $300m in Anthropic As Large Media Agencies Focus and Invest in AI Powered Advertising

Google Invests $300m in Anthropic As Large Media Agencies Focus and Invest in AI Powered Advertising

February 7, 2023
China Accelerates Generative AI Quest With ‘Ernie Bot’ Launch

China Accelerates Generative AI Quest With ‘Ernie Bot’ Launch

February 7, 2023
Nairagram To Boost Fund Transfer In Africa With Tempo France Partnership

Nairagram To Boost Fund Transfer In Africa With Tempo France Partnership

February 7, 2023

Ebusiness Life

Ebusiness Life is news Tech company. We give you latest updates on Tech News and other tech related news.

Join our mailing list and get latest updates.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Popular Posts

Google Invests $300m in Anthropic As Large Media Agencies Focus and Invest in AI Powered Advertising

Google Invests $300m in Anthropic As Large Media Agencies Focus and Invest in AI Powered Advertising

by Admin
February 7, 2023
0

China Accelerates Generative AI Quest With ‘Ernie Bot’ Launch

China Accelerates Generative AI Quest With ‘Ernie Bot’ Launch

by Admin
February 7, 2023
0

Nairagram To Boost Fund Transfer In Africa With Tempo France Partnership

Nairagram To Boost Fund Transfer In Africa With Tempo France Partnership

by Admin
February 7, 2023
0

Categories

  • Big Issues
  • Columns
  • Cyberparenting
  • eBusiness
  • Gadget Review
    • Laptops
    • Phones
  • Interviews
  • NewsBytes
    • Agrictech
    • Cybersecurity
    • Entertainment
    • Fintech
    • Foreign News
    • Local News
    • Social Media
    • StartUps
  • Opinion
  • Tech Talk
    • World of Sc & Tech
  • Uncategorized

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2022 Ebusiness Life - Desinged by Kreative TechPoint.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NewsBytes
    • Agrictech
    • Cybersecurity
    • e-Politics
    • Entertainment
    • Fintech
    • Foreign News
    • Local News
    • Social Media
    • StartUps
    • State News
  • Big Issues
  • Columns
    • Contributions
    • eScope
    • Inside Issues
  • Cyberparenting
  • Tech Talk
    • Innovations
    • World of Sc & Tech
  • Gadget Review
    • Phones
    • Laptops
    • Accessories
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • PhotoNews
  • Archives
  • Digital Edition

© 2022 Ebusiness Life - Desinged by Kreative TechPoint.