NITDA issues ultimatum for digitization of public databases

THE NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCy (NITDA) has ordered a twomonth deadline to securely digitize all databases in the public sector.

According to the agency, this is in line with global practices and secure technological innovation, as data is of public importance.

In a statement signed by Hadiza Umar, the agency’s head corporate affairs and external relations, NITDA said the directive is part of the Guidelines for Management of Personal Data by Public Institutions in Nigeria 2020.

It stated that all public institutions holding or processing personal data are required to securely digitize all personal databases within 60 days from the issuance of the guidelines

“Similarly, all such public institutions are required to maintain the highest level of information security to guarantee confidentiality, integrity, availability, and resilience of all databases within their control,” the statement read.

One of the challenges in Nigeria is data collection and storage, making it difficult to collect information across multiple government parastatal databases that house these data.

However, with this initiative, data could play a much broader role in driving socio-economic development such as crime prevention, housing (background checks), and so on.

In the commencement of the new order, the agency said the guidelines are to be considered as supplementary regulations to the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), 2019, which said it is still much relevant and binding on all Nigerian individuals and institutions.

NITDA noted that dealing with sensitive data requires adherence to the highest ethical and professional standards, hence, the new guidelines mandate the use of secure technology and automated processes for personal data by public institutions.

This is also in line with the requirements of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, and in consonance with emerging global data regulatory models.