NIGERIA DATA PROTECTION REGULATION – 2021 REVIEW
Hey there!
Happy New Year….
2021 was a good year in the data protection scape and we are glad you are part of our journey by reading our weekly publication. [You deserve some accolades… 👏👏👏]
In 2022, we promise to provide you with more insightful articles and updates to further enlighten you on data protection, information security and IT Governance. Please tell your friends and colleagues to subscribe to our weekly publication via the NDPAcademy® website.
Looking back in the year 2021, the year began with Nigeria joining the International Community to observe Privacy Week in the month of January. The programs lined up by NITDA include: a webinar on Privacy and Public Health Management, National Quiz Competition, Executive Round Table Discourse focused on Big Tech and Privacy, Privacy Fair, Pitch Sessions, and other activities to foster data privacy in Nigeria. NDP Academy and Taxaide Technologies Limited (Taxtech) is delighted to have presented two of its products; RDB® (Report Data Breach) and iDAP® (Automated Data Audit Platform)
Further in the year, Data Controllers/Administrators that process the Personal Data of Data Subjects in the year 2019 and 2020 were mandated to file their Data Protection Audit report to NITDA on or before March 15, 2021. Failure to comply within the statutory timeline would lead to a fine of about 2% of the organisation’s annual gross revenue. Regardless, NITDA considered the continued effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the renewed interest of organisations to comply with data protection regulations and obligations; and the aggregated requests for extension of filing by DPCOs. The deadline was extended from 15th March 2021 to 30th June 2021 to accommodate more organisations file their audit report.
Another major highlight of the year 2021 was NITDA’s fine of 5 million naira on E-Settlements Limited in March and the maximum fine of 10 million naira issued to Soko Loan in August. The fines were issued after investigations were conducted and the organisations were found to have breached the requirements of the NDPR.
Also, some Public Institutions engaged licensed DPCOs to file their Annual Data Audit Report. Taxtech in conjunction with AO2 LAW are proud to have conducted Data Protection Compliance Audit for 7 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Lagos State Government.
As the Data Protection Officer of your organization, it is advantageous to begin the process of appointing a Data Protection Compliance Organization (DPCO) to file your data audit report. Taxtech is one of the foremost licensed DPCO and we can help you file your audit report before March 15 deadline, you should consider contacting us at info@ndpacademy.ng or dataprotection@taxaide.com.ng.
I wish you a productive and prosperous 2022!
See you in a bit.