Naija lawmakers don dey consider one new bill wey go provide free internet services for some public places inside Nigeria. The House of Representatives just pass the bill for its first reading last week, and the bill be titled, “An Act to provide the legal framework for the free internet access programme in selected public places in Nigeria and for other related matters.”
The bill, wey be sponsored by Mr. Abubakar Kusada, the representative of Kankia/Ingawa/Kusada Federal Constituency, Katsina State, aim to promote an environment where people can easily access reliable and secure internet. Kusada talk say Nigeria know the important role of information and communications technology in building the nation.
The public places wey the proposed law cover include federal, state, and local government offices, secondary and tertiary institutions, and public hospitals, including health centers in rural areas. Other locations listed include police, Army, Navy, and Customs barracks, public parks, plazas, libraries and reading centers, public airports and seaports, and public transport terminals.
Section 1 of the bill state say no fee shall be collected from users to connect on the public internet access points. The free internet service provided shall be separate from the internet service used for backend computer systems and programmes, databases, and/or management and information systems in government offices.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) go be the lead implementing agencies to oversee the effective and efficient implementation of this Act. Dem go develop a comprehensive plan within one year of the commencement of this Act to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the programme.
The bill also empower NCC and NITDA to prescribe policies, regulations, and coordinate the implementation of the Act; enter into contracts to undertake the implementation subject to existing laws and regulations; and arrange funding for the programme from any source, whether private, government, foreign, or domestic.
