The Federal Government has directed relevant regulatory agencies to suspend the implementation and enforcement of newly issued regulations, codes, guidelines and administrative requirements affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues pending the development of a harmonised national policy framework.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, following a high-level 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 a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry, the decision is aimed at maintaining regulatory certainty while the government works towards a coordinated framework for governing Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
The ministry noted that the convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety and data governance has created areas where the statutory responsibilities of sector regulators intersect, making policy coordination necessary.
It stated that the existing regulatory status quo would be maintained on issues relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy matters currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation under the ministry’s supervision.
