The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, was represented by an officer from the IT & Cybersecurity Department of the Commission, Mr Abubakar Mahmud, at two panel sessions during the International Civil Service Conference (ICSC 2026).

The sessions titled “AI in Government: What Should We Use It For and What Should We Never Use It For?” and “Public Service AI: What Responsible AI Looks Like in the Civil Service,” explored practical approaches to integrating Artificial Intelligence into the public sector, highlighting tools like the Service-Wise GPT as prime examples of using AI to eliminate red tape and boost administrative efficiency.

Mr Mahmud highlighted the need for “Human-in-the-Loop” safeguards, warning against using AI to make final, automated decisions regarding citizen welfare or civil service human resources, in strict compliance with Section 37 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act).

Mr Mahmud reaffirmed that through robust data governance frameworks, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), AI Systems Impact Assessments (AISIA), and continuous regulatory oversight, the NDPC remains committed to building public trust and ensuring that AI adoption across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) is transparent, secure, and respectful of citizens’ privacy rights