The National Commissioner/CEO of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has inaugurated a joint working group between the NDPC and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) named, Data Protection in Telecommunications Working Group (DPTWG). The group was tasked with strengthening data protection and privacy in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
In his opening remarks, Dr Olatunji expressed his delight for the collaboration between the two parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, which led to the formation of the working group. He emphasised that the group should see its role as serving Nigeria’s over 164 million mobile phone users by ensuring their rights as data subjects are fully protected. He added that the synergy between the NDPC and NCC would contribute significantly to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy and national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) of the NCC, Engr Oshadami, reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to ensuring compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023) in the telecommunications sector. He assured that the NCC is fully prepared to support the working group in achieving its mandate of deepening data protection and privacy within the industry.
The working group is mandated to identify and develop innovative solutions for data protection and privacy, facilitate capacity building for relevant stakeholders and entities in the sector, and ensure the actual practice of data protection and privacy in the telecommunications sector.
