2023: CITAD Urges Nigerian Regulatory Agencies to Respect Citizen’s Rights
TECHDIGEST – The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on Nigerian agencies, particularly the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, among others, to ensure that the rights of citizens, both online and offline are protected during and after the 2023 general elections.
Mr Ali Sabo, Digital Rights Officer, CITAD, disclosed this today during a press briefing, in Kano State.
“These rights correspond to the fundamental rights provided in the Declaration on Human Rights as Freedom of Expression, Right to Information, Freedom of Assembly and Association, as well as the right to personal privacy and dignity.
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“The UN has recognized the right to Internet as fourth generation rights. The right to Internet as means to access these offline rights has at its core the issues of Privacy and Personal Data Protection.
“Any breach of the above is a negation to Nigerian commitment to Human Rights as well as other international covenants on human rights, including the African Charter and Peoples and Human Rights”, he said.
According to Sabo:
1. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the protection and confidentiality of the people’s mandate and not allow anybody to temper with it
2. The Nigeria Police Force to desist from being used by politicians to intimidate voters, journalists and election observers during the election
3. Tech giant companies to ensure the protection and confidentiality of the people’s data so as not allow third parties to have access to it
4. The National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigeria Communications Commission, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, National Identity Management Commission, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to not allow themselves to be used or transmit citizens data to a third person for any reason unless this request is by a competent court
5. The government to respect the citizens’ rights for association, assembly and speech online during this election
He called on the security agencies to ensure the protection of both the election and telecommunication infrastructure, for smooth transmission of election results.
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