BILL TO AMEND NCC ACT PASSES SECOND READING AT HOUSE OF REPS

The House of Representatives  passed for second reading a Bill which sought to regulate how the Police and other security agencies in the country could track and monitor telephone and internet communications involving suspected terrorists in Nigeria. It further seeks to require all telecommunication facilities to allow for the lawful interception of information transmitted by means of those facilities and respecting the provision of telecommunications subscriber information. Leading the debate on the general principle of the proposed legislation, Rep.Femi Gbajabiamila, said the bill was geared toward protecting the privacy of individuals. He said that the bill, if passed, would regulate text messages , and e-mail messages being monitored by people as well provide security for individuals. The lawmaker expressed concern that people were sometimes subjected to blackmail and kidnapping through the tapping of telephone lines. He decried the invasion of people’s privacy saying that it “should not be allowed in a democratic setting like Nigeria”. “I don’t want anyone listening to my conversation”. Speaking in support of the bill, Rep.Uzoma Abonta, said that the importance of security could not be overemphasised. He urged the House to pass the bill into second reading for the benefit of Nigerians. House Minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila submitted that indiscriminate and unlawful access to telephone and internet communications made by Nigerians without their consent or public knowledge contradicts the provision of Section 37 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).Hon. Rotimi  Makinde argued that there was need to empower the police to effectively regulate and monitor criminal activities perpetrated through the phone.