by Jewel Stephen
To launch the NetRightsNG campaign, a press briefing was held to address the urgent need of Digital rights and freedom Bill passage in Nigeria on Tuesday 11 November 2014 at the Paradigm Initiative Nigeria office in Abuja.
NetRightsNG, a coalition of individuals, organizations, and entities who have joined forces to work with all stakeholders towards a Nigerian Digital Rights and Freedom Bill. It does not have any political coloration.
Digital rights and freedom are those rights and privileges meant to be enjoyed by online users similar to those safeguarded offline as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking at the briefing and explain the benefits of a Digital rights and freedom Bill was King Nkum, ICT policy manager of Paradigm Initiative of Nigeria “The sole purpose of this event is to create ample awareness as part of the grand campaign process aimed at bringing the proposed Digital Rights and Freedom Bill to limelight. The first stage of the project is this campaign process, followed by the actual draft and finally the passage phase. It is interesting to note that this Bill when finally passed into law could be the most comprehensive single legal framework in the world as far as ICT regulation is concerned.
Although Nigeria has an ‘Internet Freedom Declaration’ almost similar to the Brazilian law establishing the principles, guarantees, rights and obligations for the use of Internet in Brazil, a more comprehensive legal regime is required to fill the obvious lacuna in our laws. The social and economic potentials of this proposed legislation are enormous and holds the greatest prospect for Nigeria and Nigerians alike. Unlike Brazil, Nigeria’s example and leadership however is yet to be established in the domain of digital rights and online freedom.”
When questioned on the economic value of the bill, Kalu Dimgba a member of the working comittees said “Passage of the bill will help condemn criminal acts happening online, which has a negative effect on the economy generally and also help set boundaries of laws that are punishable if breached and the bill also foresees into the future to cater for emerging trends in the digital and technological realms that are yet to evolve.”
Dr John Dada member of the NETRightsNG working committee gave his remarks talking about the priority of digital rights in accessing opportunities “The passage of this bill is very important in accessing so many opportunities online” when asked of the benefits of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill to Nigerians and why the government and legislator should pass the bill “When I think of Nigeria, I think of the most powerful country, Nigeria in other parts of the world are pacesetters and are excelling because of the leavel of Freedom that ensures their personal and professional development.
The Bill will create the enabling environment that allow Nigerians achieve their potentials and if the governments and Legislators realise what passing of this bill can do for the economy and international political status they will embrace it because the bill will be enablers for a lot of the pledges that were promised to the electorates (voters)” he continued saying “ A few people realise the potential of this bill, and I’m glad that paradigm Initiative of Nigeria took up this challenge to raise the awareness today, the Nigeria government is investing a lot in the Digital economy of Nigeria and this bill will help facilate the process.”
NetRightsNG is open to Nigerians, Nigerian organizations or Nigerian partners who share common ideals and are willing to join forces and resources, and for use of digital tools for development in achieving this. The secretariat of NetRightsNG is hosted by Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN). Stakeholders use mailing lists for communications and a web site is available on http://www.netrights.ng.
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