‘Release within 48 hours’ — FG to criminalise withholding of data by agencies

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential fiscal policy and tax reforms committee, has warned government agencies against withholding data from each other.

Speaking at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) first revenue assurance summit, Oyedele said the federal government will criminalise the act as the data does not belong to the agencies.

Giving an instance, Oyedele said the Joint Tax Board (JTB) was required to pay for data access from governmental sources.

He questioned how the government would generate revenue if the agencies were selling data.

To prevent the agencies from withholding data, Oyedele announced plans to draft legislation that criminalises withholding of data by agencies and mandates the free provision of government-held data, with strict deadlines for compliance.

“JTB was being asked to pay for data I couldn’t believe it. In the same Nigeria, government has data and government is selling data and we say government does not have revenue,” he said.

“How are we suppose to have revenue if we are selling data?

“So we drafted a law, it is not your data, it is our data, you will give it. In fact we will give you a deadline of 48 hours. If you don’t release the data, there will be consequences. We are criminalising it. Give the data.”

He further stressed the necessity of linking domestic data with international standards to ensure the integrity of information while making revenue collection processes efficient and transparent.

Oyedele said protocols are being developed to ensure data integrity and protection.