President Bola Tinubu
Tinubu signs Data Protection Bill, 2023 into law
President Bola Tinubu has signed the Nigeria data protection bill into law
The Nigeria Data Protection Act, of 2023 provides a legal framework for the protection of personal information and the practice of data protection in Nigeria.
The legislation allows for the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to replace the NDPB and allows Nigerians to seek redress from any form of data breach.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner for NDPB, said this on Monday at the NDPD Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) validation workshop in Abuja, NAN reports.
The commission is expected to protect citizens’ private information and be independent just as the legislation will be headed by a national commissioner with the responsibility of regulating the processing of personal information.
The legislation allows Nigerians to seek redress from any form of data breach.
The law stipulates that citizens’ personal data is “processed in a fair, lawful and accountable manner”.
The bill was sent to the Senate and House of Representatives for consideration and passage on Tuesday, April 4 2023, via a letter from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former president had premised his request on section 58(2) of the constitution.
“Pursuant to section 58, sub-section 2 of the 1999 constitution as amended, I forward herewith the Nigeria data protection bill for consideration and approval of by the senate,” Buhari had said in the letter.
