The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to immediately probe the illegal linking of National Identification Number (NIN) by telecom service providers to another person’s phone line.
It also mandated its Committees on Communications and Interior to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and report back to the House for further legislative business within four weeks.
The House also called on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to confirm whether the linking of NIN numbers by telecom service providers was authorized and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
It maintained that NCC should investigate the allegations and take immediate actions against any telecom service provider found to be culpable in this practice.
The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Wednesday by Hon. Patrick Umoh and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere
Presenting the motion, Umoh explained that NIN was established to streamline the verification and identification of persons and enhance security in Nigeria.
He expressed worry over recent reports of telecom service providers in Nigeria linking NIN to subscribers’ lines without their consent, thereby exposing them to criminal activities and subjecting legitimate NIN holders to grave risk.
The lawmaker noted that innocent citizens have been wrongly implicated in crimes, suffer reputational damage, harassment and legal challenges for crimes they know nothing about.
Umoh argued that the action was 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;
He said: “Also aware that the potential risks and consequences of this unauthorised data linking includes identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime that have become rife in Nigeria lately.”
The House resolved: “Urge the Nigerian Communications Commission to investigate these reports and take immediate actions against any telecom service provider found to be culpable in this practice;
“Urge the National Identity Management Commission to confirm whether the linking of NIN numbers by telecom service providers was authorized and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.”