The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has highlighted the critical role the National Assembly plays in fortifying data protection and governance in the country.
He disclosed this when he led delegates from Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and The Gambia on a data governance study trip to Nigeria to the Nigerian National Assembly.
During his remarks, Dr Olatunji walked the delegates through the processes that led to the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA, 2023) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, highlighting the significant role of members of the National Assembly in the process.
He encouraged the delegates to build good relationships with government officials in their respective countries, noting that showing these officials the value of data protection and privacy would get them the necessary support as they seek to deepen data protection and privacy in their countries.
In his speech, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity, Senator Shuiab Afolabi Salisu, commended the NDPC, under the leadership of Dr Olatunji, for placing Nigeria at the forefront of data protection and privacy globally, in a way that other countries now look to emulate.
He gave a detailed overview of the duties of members of the National Assembly, including the process of passing a bill into law and amending existing laws, among others.
He advised the delegates to work with legislators in their respective countries to fulfil their mandate, using the NDPC as an example.
The visit also had other members of the Senate and House Committees on ICT & Cybersecurity in attendance. As lawmakers, they offered advice to the delegates and responded to questions related to legislative processes and law-making and helped to clarify issues as well as provide insights into their roles in shaping policies.