The Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, on Wednesday, issued a Code of Conduct for Data Protection Compliance Organisations, DPCOs, to ensure professionalism in data protection.
The NDPC issued the code at a virtual event organised in Abuja, ahead of its scheduled enforcement in 2024.
The National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, charged DPCOs to see their roles in the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, NDPA, as a public trust which must be guarded with extreme sense of responsibility.
According to him, the opportunity presented by the Act included the lawful use of data and job creation in the data processing value chain.
“The NDPA 2023, under section 33 mandates the commission to license persons having a requisite level of expertise.
“The licensing is in line with data protection and the Act, to monitor, audit and report on compliance by data controllers and data processors.
“This is a unique Public Private Partnership model which is designed to promote trust and confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy, which like other economies around the world, thrives on data processing,” he said.
Olatunji noted that the DPCOs had the role of creating awareness and engaging in capacity building and registration of data controllers with the Commission.
