The Federal Government has suspended the enforcement of newly introduced regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues pending the completion of a harmonised national policy review.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced the decision in a statement issued on Tuesday 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).
According to the minister, the directive is intended to preserve the current regulatory framework while the government develops a unified national policy and governance structure for Nigeria’s digital economy.
Tijani said the rapid expansion of the digital economy has resulted in overlapping responsibilities among regulatory agencies, making closer coordination necessary to provide legal certainty, encourage investment, promote innovation and strengthen consumer confidence.
As part of the directive, the affected agencies have been instructed to defer the implementation or enforcement of any recently introduced regulation, code, guideline, framework, directive or administrative requirement relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other digital economy issues currently undergoing policy harmonisation.
He stressed that the existing regulatory status quo would remain in place for matters under review, while regulations that fall squarely within the statutory mandates of the respective agencies and are consistent with the ministry’s policy direction will continue to be enforced.
Tijani also announced the establishment of a Joint Technical Coordination Committee comprising representatives of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC under the supervision of the Office of the Minister.
He said the committee would coordinate technical engagements, consult with industry stakeholders, civil society organisations and academia, and develop recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework.
According to the minister, the proposed framework will clearly define the responsibilities of each regulatory institution, eliminate unnecessary overlaps, reduce compliance uncertainty, strengthen investor confidence, promote innovation and support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming Africa’s leading digital economy and a globally competitive destination for digital investment.
Tijani added that the harmonisation exercise is designed to improve regulatory coordination rather than diminish the statutory powers of any agency, assuring stakeholders of the ministry’s commitment to developing policies that enhance digital trust, support innovation and drive the country’s digital transformation.
