President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create at least 500,000 jobs through Data Protection Bill signed into law on Monday, June 12th, 2023.
The Nigeria Data Protection Bureau has announced that President Bola Tinubu signed the Data Protection Bill into law on Monday, June 12th, 2023.
The implementation of this new act aligns with President Tinubu’s campaign promise to foster job growth in the digital economy sector. Babatunde Bamigboye, the Head of Legal Enforcement and Regulations at the NDPB, emphasized this in a statement.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the NDPB, highlighted that the legislation will not only enhance the privacy rights of Nigerians but also protect their fundamental freedoms in both online and offline transactions.
The statement read in part, “Nigeria has taken a giant leap forward in the global data race with the assent to Nigeria Data Protection Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Act was signed on the 12th of June 2023.
“The NDPB, pursuant to the express provisions of the new act, has transmitted into a full-fledged commission and it is mandated to among others: Regulate the deployment of technological and organisational measures to enhance personal data protection.
“Foster the development of personal data protection technologies, in accordance with recognised international best practices and applicable international law; conduct investigations into any violation of a requirement under the Act; impose penalties in respect of any violation of the provisions of the Act or subsidiary legislation made thereof.
“Where necessary, accredit, license, and register suitable persons to provide data protection compliance services; issue regulations, rules, directives, and guidance under the Act; and register data controllers and data processors of major importance.”