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CJN SUES FOR IMPROVED STRATEGIES FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Katsina City News
06 Nov, 2024
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By Abubakar Ahmed

@ Katsina Times

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has charged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to come up with more strategies and innovations that will ensure consumer protection in the communications super highway.

The CJN made the call on Monday while declaring open, the 2024 National Workshop for Justices and Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications, organized by the Nigerian Communications Commission in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute, which held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

She said due to cyber security and the attendant challenges of exploring the digital space, there were "increased risk of the personal data of consumers being misused or compromised by unscrupulous persons, thus necessitating the need for improved strategies and innovation for consumer protection in the Telecommunications Sector.

Kekere-Ekun noted that deficiencies in the Banking Sector were attributable to reliance on digital services provided by the Telecommunications Sector through electronically backed transactions which is common in the Banking Sector.

"Concerns in this regard include the spate of customers whose online banking platforms have been hacked, as well as banks being compromised due to technological glitches not factored into their day to day operations. Consequently, these and several other challenges have resulted in a number of disputes which frequently require adjudication," she stated.

She expressed hope in the workshop to avail participants the opportunity to deliberate on current challenges confronting the telecommunications sector and to cross-fertilize ideas on the viable options and strategies to address these issues.

"It is also my expectation that the forum will equip Judicial Officers with the technical skills required for adjudicating disputes arising from the Sector and keep them abreast with global standards and best practices".

On her part, she assured that the Nigerian Judiciary is committed to the development of the telecommunications sector through continued coherence in the interpretation of the relevant laws as well as transparency and efficiency in the dispensation of justice.

"I have no doubt that through our combined efforts, we will be able to secure and bolster the confidence of both investors and stakeholders in the sector," she said.

While commending the organizers of the workshop, the NCC and the Judicial Institute with the theme THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN ACCELERATING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN NIGERIA, the CJN urged the participants to pay rapt attention, contribute meaningfully, and utilize the opportunity provided in order to update their knowledge in such a unique area of the law.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida said the workshop was organized "given the urgency of scaling up digital transformation across Nigeria, as well as the importance placed by the government on improving coordination and synergy among key stakeholders to achieve more beneficial outcomes on its policies."

He said the role of the commission among other things is to regulate the framework of the Nigerian communications industry, as well as promote efficient, reliable, affordable and easily accessible communications services across the country thereby playing an integral role in Nigeria’s transition to a truly digital economy.

According to him, this will involve facilitating the deployment and safeguarding of telecommunication infrastructure – which is essentially the backbone upon which digital services are delivered across various sectors of the economy.

Maida who thanked the Judicial Institute for its commitment in organizing the workshop, urged the participants to fully contribute in fashioning a workable way to enrich the development of communications law in Nigeria, and produce outcomes that will be of immense benefit to all stakeholders.

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