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‘Withdraw Regulations On Customers’ Social Media Handles Or Face Legal Action’, SERAP Tells CBN

Published

2 years ago

June 25, 2023

Editor

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr Folashodun Shonubi, Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to “immediately delete the patently unlawful provisions in the Central Bank of Nigeria (Customer Due Diligence) Regulations directing banks to obtain information on customers’ social media handles for the purpose of identification.”

SERAP also urged him to “withdraw the Circular number FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/007/076 of 20 June 2023 mandating banks and other financial institutions to implement and comply with the unlawful mandatory provisions on customers’ social media handles in the CBN Regulations.”

According to Section 6(a)(iv) of the CBN Regulations, banks and other financial institutions “shall identify their customer and obtain information on the social media handle of the customer.” Section 6(b)(iii) contains similar provision.

In the letter dated 24 June 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The CBN Regulations and directive to banks to obtain details of customers’ social media address violate Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy. It is inconsistent and incompatible with the rule of law.”

SERAP said, “The CBN ought to contribute to the advancement of respect for the rule of law and human rights in the discharge of its statutory functions, and not undermine or violate these fundamental legal requirements and standards.”

According to SERAP, “The purported mandatory requirement would inhibit Nigerians from freely exercising their human rights online. If obtained, such information may also be misused for political and other unlawful purposes.”

The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 3 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“The mandatory requirement of social media handles or addresses of customers does not serve any legitimate aim. Such information may be used to unjustifiably or arbitrarily to restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy.”

“SERAP is gravely concerned that the CBN Regulations and directive to banks and other financial institutions would impermissibly restrict the constitutional and international rights to freedom of expression, privacy and victims’ right to justice and effective remedies.”

“Requiring social media handles or addresses of customers as a means of identification would have a disproportionate chilling effect on the effective enjoyment by Nigerians of their rights to freedom of expression and privacy online.”

“The CBN bears the burden of justifying any restriction on people’s freedom of expression and privacy. Under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party, any restrictions on these rights must be applied strictly so that the rights are not put in jeopardy.”

“There are other means of identification such as passport, driver’s licence, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and Tax Identification Number (TIN), which banks and other financial institutions already require their customers to provide.”

“The additional requirement of obtaining details of a customer’s social media handle or address fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”

“The requirement of necessity implies an assessment of the proportionality of the grounds, with the aim of ensuring that the excuse of ‘regulations on customer due diligence’ is not used as a pretext to unduly intrude upon the rights to freedom of expression and privacy.”

“The CBN Regulation does not demonstrate how the use of social media handle or address as a means of identification would serve to improve banks and other financial institutions’ ability to implement and comply with the laws and regulations relating to customer due diligence.”

“The Directive by the CBN, which does not in any event carry the force of law, also fails to provide any explanation as to how social media handles or addresses can facilitate compliance with regulations relating to customer due diligence.”

“Obtaining the details of customers’ social media handles or addresses would unduly interfere with the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. It would also be disproportionate to any purported legitimate aim that the CBN seeks to achieve.”

“The facts that there are sufficient means of identification for CBN, banks and other financial institutions to rely on to meet the requirement of Know Your Customer also heighten concerns of overreach, and confer far-reaching discretion on banks and financial institutions.”

“Obtaining information on customers’ social media handles or addresses as means of identification is therefore more intrusive than necessary.”

“The cumulative effect of any attempt to access details of customers’ social media handles or addresses would be to undermine the letter, substance and spirit of the rights to freedom of expression and privacy of Nigerians.”

“The effective enjoyment of these fundamental rights constitutes a fundamental pillar for building a democratic society and strengthening democracy.”

“The CBN fails to show how details of customers’ social media handles or addresses would assist banks and other financial institutions to effectively implement and comply with the laws and regulations relating to customer due diligence.”

“Human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and central to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to which Nigeria belongs.”

“The CBN is bound to respect the constitutional and international human rights of Nigerians including the rights to freedom of expression and privacy.”

“Under the principle of pacta sunt servanda and general principles governing the law of treaties, the CBN is also bound to uphold and apply in the discharge of its statutory functions the human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”

“Indeed, under international human rights law, all public or governmental institutions including the CBN are in a position to engage the responsibility of the State.”

“The positive obligations on Nigeria to ensure the rights to freedom of expression and privacy will only be fully discharged if individuals are protected against violations by institutions like the CBN.”

“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees in Section 39 the right to freedom of expression and in Section 37, the right to privacy.”

“Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights also guarantee the right to freedom of expression. Article 17 of the Covenant also guarantees the right to privacy.”

“Freedom of expression and opinion are indispensable conditions for the advancement of any person or society, as the free exercise of the right facilitates the evolution and exchange of opinions, in turn enabling principles of transparency and accountability crucial for the promotion and protection of human rights.”

“While under certain narrow circumstances, a State may restrict the right to freedom of expression, any such restrictions must be strictly limited and meet the conditions of legality (i.e. be “provided by law”), legitimate purpose, necessity, and proportionality. The CBN Regulations mandating social media handle or address as a form of identification for customers fail to meet these legal requirements.”

“In particular, Article 19(1) of the Covenant establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect and ensure ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers.”

“Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals.”

“The principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality, apply to the right to privacy in the same manner as they do to freedom of expression and other fundamental freedoms.”

“Restrictions to the rights to freedom of expression and privacy that do not comply with the elements of legality, legitimate purpose, and necessity and proportionality shall be deemed unlawful.”
VANGUARD

News

UNICEF Advocates Six Months Maternity Leave From Working Mothers In Bauchi

Published

4 hours ago

August 4, 2025

Editor

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Bauchi state government to initiate a six months paid maternity leave to working mothers in the state.

Dr Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF’s Bauchi Chief of Field Office, stated this in a news conference in Bauchi on Tuesday to market the 2025 breastfeeding week.

According to her, the six months maternity leave would help the mothers to initiate the six months exclusive breastfeeding for their children and help in improving their health status in general.

“We really need the state government, the health system to play their roles to support the mothers.

“If the state government has a policy for six months paid maternity leave, that would play a huge role in the better nutritional status of children and initiation of exclusive six months breastfeeding for the mothers.

“Staying with the child automatically ensures better care and hygiene of the child, making them free from diarrhea which is one of the major causes of malnutrition,” she said.

Rafique added that unless women were fully supported, it would be difficult for them to do the right things like initiate breastfeeding on time, continue exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and initiate complementary breastfeeding till 24 months.

She, however, called on the state government to also come up with breastfeeding corners for working mothers to feed their children after resumption from the six months maternity leave.

Rafique said that if mothers didn’t have a good private place to feed their children, it would be difficult for them to continue feeding by working, performing and contributing towards the state’s progress and the country at large.

“These are the foundation for having a healthy, intelligent, productive next generation.

“There is a formula we need to promote which is one, six and 24.

“One means that the first hour of the baby must be initiated with breastfeeding, six means that a child must be exclusively breastfed for a good six months and then the initiation of complementary feeding along with the continuation of breastfeeding till 24 months,” she explained.

Earlier speaking, Mrs Philomena Irene, UNICEF’s Nutrition Specialist in Bauchi, revealed that over 15 states have extended paid maternity leave to working mothers across the country like Kebbi, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau among others.

“We want the media to help us amplify the benefits of breast milk, the benefits of breastfeeding both to the mother, the child and even the society at large,” she said.

On his part, Mr Abubakar Sale, the Bauchi state Nutrition Officer, appreciated UNICEF for supporting the state in terms of improving the healthy living of pregnant women and children, not only on nutrition but other aspects of health.

“The government is trying its best to see to the improvement in especially exclusive breastfeeding and other nutrition indicators in the state.

“We are doing our part together with other partners and media practitioners are very important to amplify or inform the members of the society the importance of exclusive breastfeeding so that in our next survey, we will be able to improve,” he said.

News

Tinubu Gives D’Tigress $100,000 Each, Flats, National Honour

Published

6 hours ago

August 4, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has honoured Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with a reward package that includes $100,000 for each player, $50,000 for every member of the 11-man coaching and technical crew.

Tinubu also rewarded all team members and staff with a three-bedroom flat at the Renewed Hope Estate.

In addition, the President conferred on the players and their technical crew the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger.

This was announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the presidential reception in their honour at the State House Banquet hall, Abuja.

The triumphant D’Tigress alongside their officials, were warmly welcomed by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, supported by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, at the New Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa at 5:05 pm.

On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Shettima received the team in recognition of their outstanding achievement.

Also in attendance at the reception were Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youths and Sports Development, Garba Maidoki; and Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadou.

The D’Tigress arrived after clinching their historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket title, outplaying Mali 78–64 in the final held at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

This win marks their seventh overall championship, reinforcing their supremacy in African women’s basketball.

The ceremony at the Presidential Villa mirrors a similar reception President Tinubu hosted a week earlier for the national female football team, the Super Falcons, who recently secured their tenth WAFCON title in Rabat, Morocco.

Tinubu’s remarks, delivered by Shettima at the reception noted, “Beyond being ambassadors of our nation and symbols of excellence, you have reminded us all of the power of sports to unite a diverse nation. Your victory is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. You have brought home not just a trophy, but valuable lessons for all Nigerians.

“It is a great honour, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to welcome our formidable D’Tigress to the State House. Once again, you are continental champions and now the top African team to qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup pre-qualifying tournament. You conquered Africa with a score of 78 to 64—showcasing not just tactical skill, but remarkable determination and resilience. The entire nation stands behind you with pride and support.

“My dear daughters, you faced challenges bravely, especially in the final quarter, responding not with panic but with poise. When you wore the green and white, it was more than just a uniform—you wore it with purpose, and now you wear the crown of African basketball for the fifth consecutive time.”

The President hailed Rena Wakama’s strength and inspiring young girls in the country.

“Coach Rena Wakama, you embody the evolution of leadership in Nigerian sports. Your quiet strength and remarkable achievements have shattered ceilings and inspired countless young girls across Nigeria. You truly deserve your accolades as the best coach in Africa and beyond.

“To Amy Okonkwo, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and Ezinne Kalu, the top scorer in the final, your brilliance lifted the whole team, but most importantly, you played for Nigeria and made us all proud.

“Let us reflect on one profound truth: Nigerian women have never failed the nation in sports. From the Super Falcons on the world stage, to record-breakers on the track, and now a basketball dynasty, our women have consistently been a source of pride and have proven that where preparation meets opportunity, Nigerian excellence prevails.”

Tinubu said the administration is prioritizing sports as a crucial driver of national development and economic growth, viewing it as more than entertainment but also infrastructure, education, diplomacy, and a tool for youth employment and transformation.

He also recognised the National Sports Commission, led by Mallam Alabi, for its efforts in athlete welfare, institutional reform, grassroots support, and performance-driven development, with visible positive results.

“Special appreciation goes to the National Sports Commission, under Mallam Alabi, for renewed focus on athlete welfare, institutional reform, grassroots support, and performance-based development. The results are evident, and we are proud of you. The Nigerian Basketball Federation, led by Malam Ahmadu Musa Kida, also deserves recognition for consistent team development and dedication to Nigeria’s sporting glory.

“Our government will ensure that D’Tigress, their technical team, and sports leadership in Nigeria are appropriately recognized and rewarded. You have made us proud, and we will stand by you as you prepare for the global stage.

“To all Nigerian youth, let the story of D’Tigress inspire you. Greatness stems from hard work, discipline, and belief. Nigeria belongs to those who dare to dream and are willing to give their all to realize those dreams.

“D’Tigress: you are champions, role models, pathfinders, and true daughters of this land. It is my honor and privilege, on behalf of President Tinubu, to announce national honors for the team, coach, and technical staff; $100,000 for each player; $50,000 for the coach and technical team; and more rewards to come.

“This is true leadership—recognizing and rewarding those who have excelled for our nation. May God bless you all, may God bless Nigerian sports, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he concluded.

News

Step-by-step Guide For Checking 2025 WASSCE Results

Published

6 hours ago

August 4, 2025

Editor

Following the release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results on Monday, the West African Examinations Council has provided a step-by-step guide to help candidates access their results online.

To check your results, candidates are required to visit the official result portal at http://waecdirect.org and follow the instructions carefully.

Here is the step-by-step guide for checking 2025 WASSCE results.

Enter your 10-digit WAEC Examination Number.
(This is your 7-Digit centre number followed by your 3-digit candidate number eg. 4123456789).
For examination year < 1999, enter your 8-digit WAEC Examination Number.
(This is your 5-Digit centre number followed by your 3-digit candidate number eg. 19865001)
Enter the 4 digits of your Examination Year eg. 2002
Select the Type of Examination
Enter the e-PIN Voucher Number
Enter the Personal Identification Number (PIN) on your e-PIN
Click Submit and wait for the results window to come up