NDPC steps up data protection accountability, issues guidance notice

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission has set machinery in motion to enforce data subjects’ rights and promote trust in Nigeria’s digital economy ecosystem.

In its Guidance Notice titled, ‘Guidance Notice on the Filling of Data Protection Compliance Audit Returns, CAR,’ the Commission advises data controllers and processors to file compliance audit returns or risk being excluded from the National Data Protection Adequacy Programme (NaDPAP) Whitelist.

The data controllers and processors comprise banks, telcos, hospitals, schools, ICT companies, and data centres, among others.

It will be recalled that the National Commissioner/CEO, NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, recently disclosed that the Commission is carrying out free induction training for designated Data Protection Officers in both public and private sectors so as to ensure that Nigeria can contribute competitively to the global digital economy.

The Commission further advises that agents and contractors who carry out data processing on behalf of data controllers should be trained and onboarded on the Commission’s portal.