Indication
has emerged that the federal government is pressing on to bring to reality the
policy that will require telecommunications service providers in the country to
turn over cell phone records of their customers to security agencies.
The proposed controversial bill
debate monitored by DigitalSENSE Business News titled ‘A bill for an act to provide for the interception, development
and protection of communications networks and facilities for public interest
and other related matters, 2013” will empower security agencies to monitor and
track customers’ conversations on telephone and the internet.
Speaking on the bill on the floor
of the house, the APC- Lagos member in the House of Representatives,
Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said the bill would regulate text messages and
e-mail messages being monitored by people as well provide security for
individuals.
Gbajabiamila lamented that the
house was concerned because people’s privacy were often times invaded, and
again sometimes subjected to cheap blackmail and kidnapping through the tapping
of telephone lines.
The debate on the bill was
massively supported by Reps Bitrus Kaze(PDP-Plateau) , Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia),
Leo Ogor(PDP-Delta), Reps Ken Chikere (PDP-Rivers), Benjamin Aboho (ACP-Benue)
whose submissions called for the
curtailing of tapping conversations for the well being of Nigerians and
corporate existence of the country.
The bill
which has also passed the second reading at the Senate last month was
vehemently opposed by Rep. Ossai Ossai (PDP-Delta) who argued that the proposed
legislation was “contaminated” and should be thrown out.
DigitalSENSE
Business News confirms that the contrary to the opposing view
concerning the bill, it passed the second reading as the Speaker, Alhaji
Aminu Tambuwal referred it to the Committees on Communications, Information
Communication Technology(ICT) and Justice for more inputs.
AN/GEE
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix Rep Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal
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