Senate Calls for Public Hearing on Amendment to Cybercrime Act 2015
In a move to enhance the national cybersecurity programme in Nigeria, the Senate Joint Committees on ICT & Cybersecurity and National Security & Intelligence have issued a Public Hearing notice inviting stakeholders and the general public to contribute to the amendment of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
The notice, signed by Senator Shuiab Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, working in close collaboration with Senator Shehu Buba Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, was published on Friday, November 17, 2023.
The Joint Committees are soliciting memoranda to be considered in the Upper Chamber’s efforts to improve the protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace and critical national economy infrastructure in line with extant national security and digital economy strategic policy directives.
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The Cybercrime Act 2015, enacted to safeguard critical national information infrastructure, promote cybersecurity, and protect computer systems, networks, electronic communications, data, computer programs, intellectual property, and privacy rights, is set to undergo a comprehensive review.
Scheduled for Wednesday, November 22, 2023, the public hearing will take place in Conference Room 301 of the Senate Building.
The committee has called upon stakeholders, including government institutions, ICT and cybersecurity entities, as well as national security concerns, to submit their memoranda.
The submission guidelines specify that memoranda, in both soft and hard copies, should be addressed to the Clerk of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cyber Security at Room 3.8 White House Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Stakeholders have one week to submit their contributions.
The pressing need for the amendment arises from the imperative to assess the Cybercrime Act’s application over the past eight years since its implementation.
The aim is to address and counteract computer-mediated crimes in the country effectively.
The upcoming public hearing signifies a crucial step in shaping Nigeria’s legislative response to the evolving challenges posed by cyber threats.
