Federal Government has suspended the implementation and enforcement of newly introduced regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting issues in the digital economy pending the development of a harmonised national policy framework.
Dr Bosun Tijani
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, issued the directive following a strategic meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the three agencies have been directed to maintain the existing regulatory framework while efforts to harmonise policies are underway.
The statement said the implementation or enforcement of recently introduced regulations, guidelines, codes, directives and administrative requirements relating to internet platforms and other digital economy issues would be deferred where they are part of the ongoing review.
It, however, clarified that the directive does not affect the statutory responsibilities of the agencies.
According to the ministry, existing regulations that fall within the legal mandates of the respective agencies will remain in force, provided they are consistent with the ministry’s policy direction.
Tijani said the rapid convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety and data governance had created overlapping regulatory responsibilities, making closer collaboration among regulators imperative.
He said a harmonised regulatory framework would provide greater legal certainty for businesses, encourage investment, promote innovation, strengthen consumer confidence and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy.
“As part of the harmonisation process, a joint technical coordination committee comprising representatives of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC has been established.
“The committee will coordinate stakeholder consultations and develop recommendations for a unified national policy and governance framework,” the statement said.
It added that the proposed framework would seek to clearly define the responsibilities of each regulator, reduce compliance uncertainty for businesses and improve regulatory coordination across the digital ecosystem.
The ministry stressed that the harmonisation exercise was aimed at improving collaboration among the agencies and was not intended to diminish their statutory powers.
The development comes less than 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate major technology companies and generative artificial intelligence platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the exploitation of Nigerian media content.
