EXCLUSIVE: Udotai slams Digital Economy Bill: 'A $1Trn House on analog foundation can't stand' - ITREALMS

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A top technology policy expert and Founder of CreativeAfrica Tech Policy, Mr. Basil Udotai, has delivered a scathing assessment of the draft National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, 2024, currently before the National Assembly, reports ITREALMS.

Udotai also demanded the Bill be immediately paused and restructured, insisting its central ambition is fatally undermined by an unaddressed, fragmented regulatory architecture.

RMRDC’s 30% value addition bill awaits Presidential assent - ITREALMS

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Nigeria is edging closer to a new era of industrial transformation as the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)’s 30% Value Addition Bill passes its third reading in the House of Representatives and now heads to the desk of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent, reports ITREALMS.

The landmark legislation mandates that all raw materials sourced in Nigeria must undergo a minimum of 30 percent local value addition before export. This policy aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce capital flight, and enhance the nation’s economic resilience by ensuring that more of Nigeria’s wealth is retained within its borders.

Makinde assents mobilisation agency for economic devt bill, appoints Thomas, DG - ITREALMS

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... As former Minister, Gana, hails gov

The Oyo State governor, 'Seyi Makinde, has signed into law the Executive Bill establishing the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OYMASED), noting that his administration will continue to prioritise economic development in order to solve major challenges in the state.

While signing the Bill passed by the House of Assembly into Law at the Governor's Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, on Tuesday, Governor Makinde also announced the appointment of a former Commissioner for Education in the state, Dr Morohunkola Thomas, who is his Special Adviser on Socio-Economic Development, as the Director General of the agency.

Orogbu resurrects bill for Awba-Ofemili University of Agriculture - ITREALMS

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The Bill for the establishment of Federal University of Agriculture, Awba Ofemili, Anambra State has been committed to the committee of the whole following a motion sponsored by Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu on Tuesday, reports ITREALMS.

Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu who represents Awka North/South in the Federal House of Representatives in her motion called for the recommittal of the Bill to the Committee of the whole to fast-rack it’s passage.

Oyo State gets Electricity Regulatory Commission Act - ITREALMS

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Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Friday, signed into law the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission Bill 2024.

The governor, who performed the signing ceremony at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said the signing was to give the state opportunity to develop its own roadmap to sustainable electricity.

Exposed! 12 fictitious ‘stakeholders organisation’ supporting NITDA controversial bill - ITREALMS

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Some 12 fictitious stakeholders’ organisations out of the 17 purportedly supporting the controversial Senate Bill for the repeal and enacting of 2023 National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA Act) also known as Senate Bill (SB-1082), are non-existence and not registered even with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), ITREALMS can authoritatively reveal.

ITREALMS also exclusively gathered that these 12 supporting organisations were mischievously conscripted and used to mislead Nigerians and particularly the National Assembly with the notion that the bill has sufficient stakeholders’ endorsement.

Coalition commends Buhari for transmission of Whistleblower Protection Bill to NASS for passage - ITREALMS

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The Whistleblowing Advocacy Coalition (WAC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for transmitting the draft whistleblower protection bill approved by the Federal Executive Council last December to the National Assembly for further consideration and passage before the end of this administration.

The coalition notes that a whistleblowing protection law for Nigeria is long overdue, being a conversation that has been on among different interest groups over the last two decades, and more importantly given that the whistleblowing policy which has been in operation for more than six years is not backed by a legal framework that should strengthen implementation and boost citizen confidence.

Peace Corps bill awaiting PMB assent - ITREALMS

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The long awaiting Peace Corps bill is now waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari's assent, reports ITREALMS.

This following the recent harmonisation of bill by the National Assembly.

ITREALMS gathered, it has been forwarded to Buhari who is expected to assent to it before leaving office on May 29, 2023.

Donor agency bill, another fang on civil societies - ITREALMS

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With the introduction of a bill for an Act to Establish Donor Agencies Regulatory Commission; and for Related Matters (HB. 1568), REMMY NWEKE writes that the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is becoming a house for one-week, one obnoxious bill, despite the abortion of civil society bill.

Preface:
The last may not have been heard about the much aborted civil society bill at the National Assembly (NASS) as a new bill surfaced recently with fangs on donor agencies and by extension, on the non-governmental and civil society organisation in the country.

NITDA bill 2022 lacks stakeholders input says NCS, seeks complete withdrawal – ITREALMS

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The umbrella body of Information Technology (IT) professionals in the country, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has asked the Executive arm of the Federal Government to immediately withdraw the bill before the National Assembly for the amendment of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007, because it lacks stakeholders input, reports ITREALMS.

This call was made by NCS President, Prof. Adesina Sodiya while reviewing the industry with ITREALMS on Tuesday in Lagos, insisting that the current bill as presented lacks any stakeholder input in entirety, as most of the inputs were merely collated but jettisoned eventually.

Imo Assembly passes 2023 budget, Imo State Council of Elders bill - ITREALMS

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The Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA) has passed the 2023 Appropriation Bill to the tune of N458,731,029,167 to the service of the Government of Imo State, reports ITREALMS.

This appropriation, ITREALMS gathered, excludes the consolidated Revenue Fund Charges of N15, 743, 247, 101, hence a total budget of N474, 468, 286, 257.

Reps hold public hearing on bill for University of Agriculture, Awba-Ofemili - ITREALMS

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The Federal House of Representatives on Monday, April 11, 2022, held a public hearing on the proposed bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Agriculture Awba-Ofemili in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, reports ITREALMS.

The bill is being sponsored by Hon. Sam Chinedu Onwuaso, ITREALMS gathered, took another progressive turn as the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions held a public hearing for the proposed bill in line with the processes of legislation.

NITDA Bill 2021: Full text of a bill to repeal Act No. 28, 2007 - ITREALMS

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Full text of a draft bill to repeal NITDA Act No. 28, 2007

The amorphous hate speech bill - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS: 

The issue of the hate speech bill which was sponsored by a former Senate Spokesperson, who now is the Deputy Senate Whip, Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger State) has been trailed with a lot of comments. The bill passed first reading at the floor of the red chamber on Tuesday, titled: "National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill 2019".

Before now, Abdullahi had sponsored a similar bill in the 8th Senate, but couldn't survive second reading as a result of criticisms from different corners.

Taking a look at the bill, offenders are either liable to 10 years jail term, payment of #10 million fine or death by hanging. This kind of bill must not see the light of the day, a bill fashioned to deprive Nigerians of their right, suppresses freedom of speech.

At a time like this, emphasis should be on the democratic growth of the nation, than a bill to pull it down. Can this bill be justified? What constitutes hate speech in a democratic setting?

Section 39 (3) of the Constitution had made it clear that no law could abrogate the rights of Nigerians to exercise their right to freedom of speech. I am waiting to see if the 9th Senate will pass a bill detrimental to the people. A friend once told me that the Senate does not fully understand its role as one of the three arms of government. We don't want an unresistant Senate, as it is a danger to the growth of the nation.

The bill according to the sponsor, is aimed at ensuring the elimination of all forms of hate speeches; promoting the elimination of all forms of hate speeches against persons or ethnic group; as well as advising the Federal Government on the matter.

I can see dictatorship coming. A look at the multifaceted issues confronting the nation, is it the hate speech bill that should be on the front-burner? This is an ill-formed, shapeless and formless bill.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Nigeria is a signatory to this international instrument.

They said hate speech is a specie of terrorism. This bill has brought stimulated discourse in many quarters. For me, the bill is already taken care of under slander, libel, treasonable felony and other crimes. The proposed bill is in conflict with the Constitution, existing laws like Criminal Act and Penal Codes and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act.

What the nation needs at this period are laws that will bring about peace, justice and good governance; laws that will holistically address the three monsters of insecurity, corruption and impunity currently holding the nation down. Nigerians for once should show their displeasure by resisting blatant oppression.

Anytime I remember this bill that is uncalled for, I remember Pakistan and Somalia. Nigeria as a nation should do things rightly, or is this a flawed democracy?

Each passing day, I see those called leaders full of disruptive tendencies at the detriment of the citizens. We can't achieve greatness, if the rights of the people are muzzled because when you subdue freedom of speech, then sycophants are seen all over the place which is not what the nation wants. A sycophant is myopic and insular in the appreciation of his actions. It is important to mention here that saying things the way they are is a sign for openness towards the growth of the nation and such helps in building a just society.

Hate speech has worn a fabric (Ankara), but is this the Nigeria of our dream?

For those putting on the apron of hate speech (crusaders), they should know how to differentiate between hate speech and a robust expression of one's views.

If I describe the Nigerian Police as inefficient, is that hate speech?

The time to act is now. May God save us from us!

*Chris Uruakpa writes from Lagos

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Hate Speech: Ekwunife rejects bill, vows to resist replication of CyberCrime Act - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Iyom Uche Ekwunife has assured Nigerians and her people that she will not support any attempt to replicate any provision of the Cyber Crimes Act of 2015, reports ITREALMS.

Ekwunife in a letter to her people of Anambra Central Senatorial District following avalanche of telephone calls and messages on the issue of Hate Speech Bill recently read for the first time in the red chambers, said she will not be a party to attempts to duplicate Cyber Crimes Act, describing that as unnecessary.

“I am aware that the provisions of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015, and other statutes already have provisions and penalties for hate speech and consequently, any other bill which seeks to regulate these same areas would be duplicitous and unnecessary,” she said in a copy of the letter sighted by ITREALMS.

According to her, until the bill is mentioned for second reading with accompanying explanation from the sponsors, no debate can ensue on the floor of the national assembly.

She assured that alongside her colleagues at the Senate, they would never allow any bill which does not fully reflect the true wishes and interests of Nigerians to pass second reading.

Further, she noted that Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, guarantees to all Nigerian citizens, a fundamental right to Freedom of Expression.

“Therefore, to the extent that this Hate Speech Bill seeks to abridge the fundamental rights of Nigerians, guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, I will vehemently oppose it as being inconsistent with the Supremacy Clause of the 1999 Constitution as enshrined in Section 1 subsection (3) of our constitution,” Ekwunife said.

She urges her senatorial district to remain patient and law abiding, “As I assure you that this Hate Speech Bill, to the extent of it's infringement to the fundamental rights of Nigerian Citizens, will be rejected by me totally.”

Chuks Egbuna/Editor

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Techpreneur faults FG, NASS on social media bill - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

A Lagos-based techpreneur, Mr. Ebenezer Dare, has faulted both the Federal Government and the National Assembly (NASS) and called on them to define what they really want to regulate in the name of proposed Social Media Bill, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking on the vexed issue of the plans by the Federal Government and National Assembly to gag the system, Mr. Dare, who is the Chief Executive Officer at Hostlag, a domain names and web hosting company, wondered if the Nigerian government truly wanted to regulate foreign applications developed by foreign companies or the people.

He said that regulating the people for instance, will FG sit down with those social media companies in the process of making their regulations and if not, “how do they want to achieve the said bill?”

For him, both the FG and National Assembly must understand what they want to regulate and then come up in alliance with the application companies, insisting that no law is developed in a vacuum, especially in a democratic setting like Nigeria.
And if it is the applications they want to regulate, he urged them to rename the said bill and not call it social media bill.

“If software and websites will be included, that's no longer social media,” he objected, stressing that is relevant now is more education rather than regulation of any sort.

“What I think we need is more of education rather than regulation,” he said.

FG, Dare said, needs to appeal to the emotions of social media activists, youths and other social media users.

“We need to do something that will affect their psychology about the danger of sharing fake news or hate speech because an average social media user will only share news that affects his or her emotion without confirming the source or the genuinety,” Dare submitted.

Insisting that what Nigeria needs on this social media usage is education.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Pix: Dare

CSOs, Nigerians urge President Buhari to sign digital rights bill - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and digital rights stakeholders, have urged the President, Muhammadu Buhari to sign the digital rights bill, sent to his office on Tuesday, FEbruary 5, this year, reports ITREALMS. 

The National Assembly, ITREALMS recalled had on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, transmitted the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent. The Bill, which had been in Parliament since 2016, was passed by both chambers of the Parliament in 2018.

Paradigm Initiative, a social enterprise that has led the advocacy campaign in support of the bill, commended the National Assembly and urged President Buhari to immediately sign the Bill into law. This is according to a statement signed by its Communications Officer, Sodiq Alabi.

According to ‘Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative Executive Director, “We are happy the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill has now been transmitted to President Buhari. Mr President now has a unique opportunity to position Nigeria as a leader in rights-respecting laws in Africa by signing the Bill into law.”

Yemi Adamolekun, the Executive Director of Enough Is Enough Nigeria, said, “It is significant that the gesture is happening on a day globally celebrated as the Safer Internet Day. There is now global attention on Nigeria to finish the important work it started by signing the Bill into law.”

The Africa Regional Coordinator of Web Foundation, Nnenna Nwakanma also added, “As the World Wide Web turns 30, Nigerians can not wait any longer for digital rights, freedoms and opportunities. The President's Assent is urgently needed to secure fundamental rights, to support a stronger digital economy, and to build a more secure internet.”

The President will have 30 days from the day it receives the communication from the National Assembly to assent to the Bill.

Speaking on the development, Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights Program Manager, Boye Adegoke said, “To its credit, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has signed some landmark Bills such as the Not too young to run Bill and the Disability Bill.”

“If passed, the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill will add to what appears to be a forward-looking disposition of the administration to policy making. What President Muhammadu Buhari does with the Bill will go a long way to define the administration’s disposition towards technology and its viability in improving the economic base of Nigeria,” Adegoke said.

A digital rights advocate and lawyer, Tomiwa Ilori said, "The bill is a potpourri of protected freedoms in the digital age. Nigeria will be at the cusp of history for being the first country to pass such comprehensive law with respect to securing human rights for the future. We have a golden opportunity of resetting digital policy across the board for human rights, we should take it."

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Paradigm Initiative commends NASS for passing Digital Rights Bill

ITREALMS:

Pan-African digital rights organization, Paradigm Initiative has commended the two legislative houses of the National Assembly (NASS) for passing the Digital Rights and Freedom bill, reports ITRealms.

The bill, ITRealms recalled was passed on Tuesday afternoon by the Senate following earlier passage at the House of Representatives last December, 2017.

The Bill, ITRealms gathered was a product of civil society efforts led by Paradigm Initiative beginning at the 2014 Internet Freedom Forum in Abuja, “provides for the protection of human rights online, to protect Internet users in Nigeria from infringement of their fundamental freedoms and to guarantee application of human rights for users of digital platforms and/or digital media.”

Speaking on the importance of the bill, Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights Programme Manager, Boye Adegoke said, “By the passage of this BIll, the legislative arm of government has shown a commitment to the development of digital rights in Nigeria.”

He expressed excitement about the provisions in this Bill regarding freedom of expression online.

“The bill will ensure that citizens can freely express their opinions online without interference. This is such a positive development at a time when Nigeria is moving into an election season and there are legitimate fears that there may be moves by some political interests to gag free speech in the country. 

The positive leadership of the National Assembly on the issue is quite commendable.” Adegoke said.

Also speaking, Director of Programme at Paradigm Initiative, Tope Ogundipe said “Nigeria has demonstrated remarkable leadership on the continent by passing this Bill. The Bill is quite important to the future of innovation and Nigeria’s digital economy in essence. It represents the needed framework to attract the partnership of global brands in the digital economy.”

Worthy of note about this bill, ITRealms gathered, is the provision of progressive legislative backing to online speech in the country.

Paradigm Initiative further urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill to transform it into a law, making it Nigeria’s first law on human rights online.

Clause 14 of the bill, for instance, reads, “Every person shall have the right to freely express opinion online without interference, this right includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, regardless of digital frontiers”. Under this Bill, freedom of expression further includes the freedom to express and impart information and ideas of all kinds that can be transmitted to others, in whatever form, and regardless of media.”

Nenye Egbune/GEE

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National Assembly passes Digital Rights & Freedom Bill

BreakingNews @ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Senate has finally passed the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, following in the footsteps of the Nigerian House of Representatives which passed the Bill on December 19, 2018, reports ITRealms.

The bill, ITRealms gathered was passed at about 1:09 pm Tuesday, and is a product of civil society efforts led by Paradigm Initiative beginning at the 2014 Internet Freedom Forum in Abuja, “provides for the protection of human rights online, to protect Internet users in Nigeria from infringement of their fundamental freedoms and to guarantee application of human rights for users of digital platforms and/or digital media.”

ITRealms also gathered that in 2016, Hon Chukwuemeka Ujam sponsored the Bill at the House of Representatives where it underwent rigorous legislative process before eventual passage last December.

The Bill was first tabled before the Senate for concurrence on January 16 2018, and was finally passed Tuesday, March 13, 2018. 

Notable of the Digital Rights bill, ITRealms reports provides progressive legislative backing to online speech in the country.

For instance, ITRealms reports that Clause 14 of the bill reads, “Every person shall have the right to freely express opinion online without interference, this right includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, regardless of digital frontiers”.

In addition, ITRealms gathered that under this Bill, freedom of expression further includes the freedom to express and impart information and ideas of all kinds that could be transmitted to others, in whatever form, and regardless of media.

Further, the Bill also made provisions towards the protection of data and right to privacy online as contained in Section 5 of the Bill, which reads in part “(1) Every person is guaranteed the confidentiality of his personal data.

“(2) The integrity and confidentiality of personal data and information of citizens is inviolable and therefore guaranteed... (6) All entities that collect, store and/or process personal data in the course of their activities shall have data privacy policies that are readily and easily accessible to the public.”

The Bill will now be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari for the presidential assent to transform the bill to a law, making it Nigeria’s first law on human rights online.

Chuks Egbune and Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Pix: Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Digital Rights bill passes @Green chambers

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria’s House of Representatives also known as the Green Chamber, has passed the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill (HB. 490), reports ITRealms.

The piece of legislation, ITRealms reports, was passed on Monday and is proposed for “an act to provide for the Protection of Human Rights Online, To Protect Internet Users in Nigeria From Infringement of their Fundamental Freedoms and to Guarantee Application of Human Rights for users of Digital platform and/or Digital Media and for Related Matters.”

The Bill was first conceived by Paradigm Initiative working with the NetRights Coalition in 2013 and its drafting was finalised in 2015. It was introduced to parliament in April 2016 by its sponsor, Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam, and has now successfully completed its journey through the House of Representatives at the plenary session on December 19, 2017.

According to Adeboye Adegoke, Program Manager of Paradigm Initiative, “Paradigm Initiative is elated by this news because the Netrights Coalition we lead has put in serious effort in seeing the idea to fruition.  We believe strongly in the potential it has to make a great impact in the development and recognition of digital rights in Nigeria. And we hope that after its passage, other African countries, and indeed the world, would follow suit.”

In his remark, the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam said, “The Bill has come a long way and will proceed to the Conference Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives for further approval before the final assent by the President; hopefully with no hitches.”

He continued, “the content of the Bill is laudable and brilliant. It is clear evidence of what can happen when the government involves its citizens in lawmaking and governance, and I am proud to sponsor it.”

Digital rights and freedom are increasingly gaining relevance with increasing advocacy in Nigeria. Several civil society organizations exist to ensure that the rights recognized offline are on-boarded to the digital space as well. This is simultaneously in accordance with the advocacy going on internationally.

Paradigm Initiative leads advocacy for these rights in Africa and has embraced policy and legislative intervention as a way to protect digital rights in Africa. The organisation has for years actively spearheaded projects and partnered with other interested civil society groups in ensuring that digital rights are upheld in Africa.

Reacting, the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, ‘Gbenga Sesan, said that he believes this was a notable moment in 2017. 

"And news like this strengthens our faith in the Nigerian legislative system; in believing that laws which are of significant benefit to citizens are also taken seriously by our lawmakers. We look forward with renewed hope to the next stage of this process at the Senate,” he said.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Pix; Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representative.