A
group of Information Technology experts under the aegis of Paradigm
Initiative Nigeria (PIN), have called on the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) to suspend the Bank Verification Number (BVN) that it mandated for
bank customers in Nigeria.
They said their call was based on the ground that it exposes
confidential information of private citizens and is riddled with severe
implications as there are no legal frameworks in place to safeguard the
data collection exercise.
PIN, which made the request in a letter signed by Boye Adegoke, its Programme Manager on ICT Policy, said it was ready to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion to protect Nigerians from the fallout of CBN’s action.
According to PIN: “The call for suspension is necessary based on the need to first enact a viable legislation to properly cater for data of private citizens as requested by the apex bank’s policy and moreover, we agree with President Muhammadu Buhari on the need for data collection agencies to work together.
"The Bank Verification Number (BVN), upon perusal, seeks to expose confidential information of private citizens and is riddled with severe implications as there are no legal frameworks in place to safeguard the data collection exercise.
“The implementation of Bank Verification Number (BVN) now, in the absence of a legal framework, is like putting the cart before the horse, there has to be a law regulating the use of data of private citizens before such an important exercise.”
In view of this, PIN is calling for the suspension of the BVN exercise until the proper laws are put in place, adding that if CBN should go ahead with its administrative policy in respect of this exercise, the organisation will be left with no other choice than to toe the line of legal redress to re-establish the proper order of events.
PIN, which made the request in a letter signed by Boye Adegoke, its Programme Manager on ICT Policy, said it was ready to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion to protect Nigerians from the fallout of CBN’s action.
According to PIN: “The call for suspension is necessary based on the need to first enact a viable legislation to properly cater for data of private citizens as requested by the apex bank’s policy and moreover, we agree with President Muhammadu Buhari on the need for data collection agencies to work together.
"The Bank Verification Number (BVN), upon perusal, seeks to expose confidential information of private citizens and is riddled with severe implications as there are no legal frameworks in place to safeguard the data collection exercise.
“The implementation of Bank Verification Number (BVN) now, in the absence of a legal framework, is like putting the cart before the horse, there has to be a law regulating the use of data of private citizens before such an important exercise.”
In view of this, PIN is calling for the suspension of the BVN exercise until the proper laws are put in place, adding that if CBN should go ahead with its administrative policy in respect of this exercise, the organisation will be left with no other choice than to toe the line of legal redress to re-establish the proper order of events.
