A two-day Legislators’ Retreat on Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Future through Rights-Based Legislation was held in Lagos for the Chairmen, selected members, and staff of various committees of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, and the Committee on Digital and Information Technology of the House of Representatives. Others are Rules and Business, Human Rights, and Media and Public Affairs committees. The retreat was also attended by representatives of civil society organisations, digital rights experts, and academics.

The Retreat examined, among other topics, Nigeria’s Digital Rights Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities; Global Trends in Digital Rights Legislation with a particular focus on lessons from the European Union experience; the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence: EU’s Approach and Lessons for Nigeria; and the Role of the Legislature in Protecting Digital Freedoms.

It reviewed in detail the draft Digital Rights and Freedoms Bill, during which reflections were shared on the current draft of the Bill, with proposals on how to strengthen the Bill.

The meeting thereafter adopted this communique with the following resolutions and recommendations.