Senator Ned Nwoko asserts that requiring social media platforms like TikTok and X to open physical offices in Nigeria could create 200,000 jobs for local youths. He supports the amendment of the Nigerian Data Protection Act to enhance accountability and tax compliance, while also proposing to regulate bloggers and digital content creators. The bill aims to bolster Nigeria’s economy and ensure fair practices among digital platforms operating in the country.
Ned Nwoko, a Senator from Delta North, has posited that social media platforms such as TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter) could potentially generate at least 200,000 job opportunities for Nigerian youths if they were required to set up physical offices within the country. He expressed these thoughts during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), advocating for amendments to the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, which is currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
He emphasized that the proposed bill is essential for ensuring accountability from tech giants that operate in Nigeria without sufficient oversight. “We have millions of young, talented Nigerians looking for jobs. These social media companies are employing thousands of people in other countries, yet they ignore our people. If they set up offices here, at least 200,000 Nigerian youths can get direct employment in customer service, tech, content moderation, and other areas,” he noted.
Nwoko further clarified that the bill is not intended to hinder business operations, but rather to empower Nigerian citizens by requiring these companies to establish a presence in the country. He remarked, “They make billions of dollars from our people, yet they do not pay the right taxes… France did it. Ireland did it. Even the UK did it. Why are we scared to do the same?”
Additionally, the Senator highlighted that passing the bill would facilitate tax repatriation for businesses operating in Nigeria. He pointed out that the current lack of office registration leads to significant annual tax losses. “Every year, Nigeria is losing at least 10 billion dollars in taxes from the social media companies because they refuse to set up offices in Nigeria,” he asserted, stressing the need for compliance to boost local revenue.
Moreover, Nwoko proposed that the bill will also address the registration of bloggers and digital content creators in Nigeria. He suggested that every blogger should possess a registered, verifiable address and belong to a recognized media union for accountability and standards, citing existing unions for other professions. “If there is a complaint against a blogger, there must be a professional body to hold them accountable,” Nwoko stated, asserting that bloggers should contribute taxes if they earn significant income.
What is notable is that Nigeria previously required X to establish a physical office as a condition to lift a ban against it in 2021, a condition that remained unmet until X was sold to Elon Musk in 2022. Presently, only Meta, the parent company of Facebook, maintains a physical office in Nigeria, although it has recently announced a reduction in office space in Lagos due to workforce cutbacks affecting numerous local employees.
In summary, Senator Ned Nwoko advocates for significant job creation through the establishment of physical offices by social media companies in Nigeria. The proposed amendment to the Nigerian Data Protection Act aims to hold these companies accountable, ensuring they contribute taxes and create employment opportunities. Moreover, the introduction of regulations for bloggers signifies a move towards more responsible digital content creation, fostering both accountability and economic contribution within the growing digital space in Nigeria.
Original Source: nairametrics.com
