By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass yesterday disclosed that the nation’s apex legislative institution was planning legislation that would regulate Artificial Intelligence in the country to curb identity theft among others.
Abass stated this at the 7th convocation ceremony organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in collaboration with the University of Benin, held in Abuja.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to have a regulatory framework in place for emerging technologies.
He noted that though new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and robotics have immense benefits, there is a need to check their misuse and abuse.
He emphasised that AI can create many benefits such as better healthcare, safer and cleaner transport, more efficient manufacturing, and cheaper and more sustainable energy.
He further stressed that integrating AI into education would present a transformative shift in how teaching and learning are conducted.
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He added that AI has the potential to customise learning, enhance educational tools, and improve administrative systems, offering several benefits and also posing unique challenges.
The Speaker, however, said, “Despite the opportunities of AI, there are risks involved.”
He said, “Datasets and algorithms can reflect or reinforce gender, racial, or ideological biases. More critically, AI can deepen inequalities by automating routine tasks and displacing jobs.
“There is also likely to be a rise in identity theft and fraud, as evidenced by the use of AI to create highly realistic deep fakes.
“These are intended to misinform, trick, and confuse people. Attackers use these maliciously crafted videos, photos, and audio to create societal unrest, carry out fraud, and damage the reputations of individuals and brands.
“Accordingly and in recognition of the opportunities and threats posed by AI, the 10th House of Representatives will engage stakeholders and experts on this and related issues. We shall leverage their potential and address issues of privacy, accountability, ethics, security, and intellectual property.
“We will also work with the Executive to ensure the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and renewable energy into the school’s curriculum.
“Therefore, in the coming weeks, I will introduce a bill to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ensure better conditions for the development and use of this innovative technology in Nigeria. This will be the first such effort in Africa and one of only a few undertaken by parliaments worldwide.”
*As Akpabio says Nigeria must embrace agric, and solid minerals to boost revenues
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, said Nigeria must break the shackles of its mono-economy to increase its revenue base.
He said, “Decades ago, Nigeria was the world’s largest producer of cocoa, palm produce, groundnuts and others. We had groundnut pyramids in the North, the Cocoa House in the West, and palm plantations in the East.
“I believe that if we go back to these agricultural products and add them to our oil earnings, our revenue generation will be boosted. All the same, we should know that if the Government spends more than its revenue, it is bad for our country.
“We in the National Assembly, in our oversight function, will also act to ensure that parastatals and agencies of government are in step with the expectation of the Tinubu Administration and Nigerians in expenditure management.
*Economist tasks lawmakers on dwindling revenue profile
The President, of Nigeria Economics Society, Prof Adeola Adenikinju, who delivered the convocation lecture, urged the National Assembly to carry out radical legislative activities that would encourage investments in the nation’s economy.
Adenikinju’s lecture is titled, “Improving Public Revenue Generation and Expenditure Management in Nigeria: Issues for Consideration.”
He noted that a situation where the Company Income Tax is the highest in the world when the government failed to provide the necessary infrastructure to create a conducive environment for investors, was not acceptable.
Adenikinju, who lectures at the Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, also urged the nation’s apex legislative institution to legislate laws to strengthen the non-oil sector of the economy.
He said the nation’s expenditure particularly debt servicing was affecting the ability of the government to provide basic amenities for the citizenry.
The Director General of NILDS, Prof Suleman Abubakar, said the Convocation was organised for graduands of Master’s Degrees in Legislative Studies; Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) Legislative Drafting; Master’s Degree in Parliamentary Administration; Master’s Degree in Elections and Party Politics, and Post Graduate Diploma in Elections and Political Party Management.
