News Highlights:
- House Orders NCC Investigation into Unauthorized NIN Linking
- Legislative Action to Protect Citizens’ Data Privacy
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to investigate telecom service providers for unlawfully linking National Identification Numbers (NIN) to phone lines without the owners’ consent.
The House further urged the NCC to investigate the allegations and take immediate action against any telecom service provider found to be culpable in such practice.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Wednesday, by Hon. Patrick Umoh and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
While moving the motion, Umoh expressed concern about recent reports of telecom service providers in Nigeria linking NIN to subscribers’ lines without their consent, thereby exposing them to criminal activities and subjecting legitimate NIN holders to grave risk.
Umoh argued that the action was a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, which guarantee the right to privacy and protection of personal data of every Nigerian.
He recalled that the NIN was established to streamline the verification and identification of persons and enhance security in Nigeria.
“Also aware that the potential risks and consequences of this unauthorised data linking include identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime that have become rife in Nigeria lately,” Umoh added.
The lawmaker said innocent citizens have been wrongly implicated in crimes, suffer reputational damage, harassment, and legal challenges for crimes they know nothing about.
The House, therefore, resolved to, “Urge the NCC to investigate these reports and take immediate actions against any telecom service provider found to be culpable in this practice;
“Urge the National Identity Management Commission to confirm whether the linking of NIN numbers by telecom service providers was authorised and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.”
The House also mandated its Committees on Communications and Interior to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and report back to the House for further legislative business within four weeks.
