By Linus Aleke
A digital rights advocate, under the umbrella of Paradigm Initiative (PIN), has dragged the Federal Government agency, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), to Federal High Court in Abuja, over alleged abuse of administrative power.

The advocacy group said, the power of an agency to make laws and policies on any issues must be given by law.

The Communications Manager, of Paradigm Initiative, Ms Judith Ogutu, in a statement on Monday said, in ensuring the rule of law is adhered to, the organization have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to determine the following questions:

“Whether the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has the powers to propose or formulate any regulation, framework or guideline which directs or purports to direct, mandate or purport to mandate, dictates or purports to dictate the protection of personal data in Nigeria.

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Whether the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) possesses the powers to propose or formulate any regulation, framework and guideline which directs or purports to direct, mandates or purports to mandate, dictates or purports to dictate the issuance and enforcement of sanctions for non-compliance thereto”.

The group also noted that these questions are important for existing and future policy and regulation formulation as they ensure that responses to emerging threats are meticulous and effective.

Ms. Ogutu said, actions mandated by laws are legitimized by the people and have contingencies to possible issues, adding that any agency acting beyond legal authority puts the people and the aspect of governance under their mandate at risk.

“As a regulatory agency, NITDA is a creation of the law and as an organization that enforces the law, it must not be seen to act outside limits of the law. This suit is without prejudice to NITDA’s ongoing attempt to amend its laws to give it additional powers and to legitimize actions it already undertook within its existing mandate.
It is our prerogative to see the rule of law adhered to especially by regulatory agencies of government as we await the determination of the suit,” the statement reads.

Ms. Ogutu, said, the growing number of people with access to the internet and the increasing usage of digital technology in business, healthcare, commerce, banking, and other parts of the economy has created the need to develop more laws and policies around these issues.

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve the livelihoods of under-served young Africans.