The Federal Government has suspended the enforcement of newly introduced regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other digital economy matters while it reviews and harmonises policies guiding the sector.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, after 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 move is intended to keep the current regulatory system in place until a single national policy and governance framework for the digital economy is completed.
He explained that the fast expansion of Nigeria's digital economy has created areas where the responsibilities of different regulators now overlap.
He said better coordination is needed to provide clear rules, encourage investment, support innovation and improve confidence among consumers and businesses.
As part of the directive, the affected agencies have been instructed to suspend the implementation or enforcement of recently introduced regulations, codes, guidelines, frameworks, directives and administrative requirements relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other digital economy issues that are currently under review.
The minister stated that the existing regulatory arrangement would remain in force during the harmonisation process.
However, he clarified that regulations already covered by the legal responsibilities of the various agencies and consistent with the ministry's policy direction would continue to be enforced.
To drive the review process, Tijani announced the creation of a Joint Technical Coordination Committee made up of representatives from the NCC, NITDA and NDPC under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The committee will coordinate technical discussions, engage industry stakeholders, civil society organisations and academic institutions, and prepare recommendations for a unified national policy and governance framework.
The minister said the planned framework would clearly define the responsibilities of each regulatory agency, remove unnecessary overlaps, reduce uncertainty for businesses, strengthen investor confidence, encourage innovation and support Nigeria's goal of becoming Africa's leading digital economy and a top destination for digital investment.
He added that the review is not meant to reduce the powers of any regulatory agency but to improve coordination among them while developing policies that build digital trust, encourage innovation and strengthen the country's digital economy.
.jfif)
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