Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications and Innovation, says the federal government is developing a harmonised national policy and governance framework for the digital economy sub-sector.

In the meantime, Mr Tijani directed that the regulatory status quo be maintained regarding internet platforms and online intermediaries.

Mr Tijani said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

This followed a high-level strategic meeting the minister had with the leadership of three agencies under the ministry’s purview.

The agencies are the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The meeting recognised that Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy had naturally created areas where the statutory responsibilities of sector regulators intersect.

While each institution possesses clearly defined mandates, the convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, online safety and data governance required a coordinated whole-of-government approach to policy development and implementation.

Mr Tijani said that regulatory coordination was not only essential to preserving legal certainty but was also fundamental to promoting investment, innovation, consumer confidence and Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness as Africa’s leading digital economy.

“The existing regulatory status quo shall be maintained with respect to matters relating to Internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues currently undergoing inter-agency policy harmonisation under the Ministry’s coordination.

“Relevant agencies are to defer the implementation or enforcement of any recently issued regulation, code, guideline, framework, directive or administrative requirement relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries or other cross-cutting digital economy matters,” he directed.

He said that such provisions concerned areas currently undergoing policy harmonisation under the ministry’s coordination.

“The above direction is without prejudice to the statutory responsibilities of the respective institutions,” he said.

According to him, all other provisions of existing regulations, guidelines, codes and directives that fall squarely within the express mandates of the relevant agencies under extant laws remain fully operational and enforceable.

The minister said they only have to be consistent with the ministry’s policy direction.

“The ministry shall establish a Joint Technical Coordination Committee comprising representatives of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC under the leadership of the office of the minister,” he said.

Mr Tijani said the committee would coordinate technical engagements, undertake broad consultations with industry, civil society, academia and other stakeholders, and develop recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework.

“The objective of the harmonisation exercise is not to diminish the statutory mandates of any institution. It is to ensure that government speaks with one coherent voice on cross-cutting digital economy issues through a coordinated, predictable and future-ready regulatory framework,” he said.

He said that the harmonised framework would clearly delineate institutional responsibilities, eliminate unnecessary regulatory overlap, reduce compliance uncertainty, strengthen investor confidence and promote innovation.

He said that it would also ensure Nigeria’s regulatory architecture supports the country’s ambition to become Africa’s leading digital economy and a globally competitive destination for digital investment.

(NAN)