The House of Representatives has tasked the Joint Committee on Communications and Interior with investigating the unlawful and unsolicited linkage of National Identification Numbers (NIN) by telecommunications companies.
This move came after the adoption of a motion co-sponsored by Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom) and Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo).
The House has also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to look into the issue and take appropriate action against any telecom providers found guilty.
Additionally, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has been asked to verify whether the NIN linkage by telecom companies was authorized and adheres to relevant laws and regulations.
Umoh raised concerns over recent reports of telecom companies linking NINs to subscribers’ lines without their consent, putting them at risk of criminal activities and exposing legitimate NIN holders to potential harm.
He stated, “The House recognises that the action is 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. Aware that the NIN was established to streamline the verification and identification of persons and enhance security in Nigeria.”
He also highlighted the risks of unauthorized data linking, including identity theft, financial fraud, and other cybercrimes that have increasingly plagued the nation.
“Further aware that innocent citizens have been wrongly implicated in crimes, suffer reputational damage, harassment, and legal challenges for crimes they know nothing about,” he added.
The motion was approved unanimously, and the investigation committee has been given four weeks to complete its work.