As cross-border digital trade continues to grow, Nigeria Institutional Reformer Jonah Ubanmhen says” it is necessary for international organizations such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) to oversee protection of the public space and promotion of competition in certain essential services that are critical to people lives and livelihood.
Jonah said this on Tuesday while speaking via zoom to a select group of Newsmen while on a visit to U.N. House in Abuja. According to him, “The current situation at the Nigerian News outlets is no longer sustainable. Our resolve for change must be matched with action and our digital transformation strategy requires us to ask UNCITRAL to intervene in the dispute that will enable us to develop a bespoke digital solution, which will continuously improve our range and delivery of digitally-enabled services for the future”. It’s about upholding our democracy because our democracy—any democracy – needs a free, independent, and thriving press.
He also maintained that the alternative dispute resolution system was an important pillar of justice delivery; a move which is considered to enhance public confidence and protection in digital markets. He says part of his Reform Agenda, is to open up Big Tech markets to a balanced-regulatory framework, level the playing-field and to ensure a sustainable and viable Nigerian media landscape thereby fostering an environment conducive to economical growth, innovation and the preservation of Nigerian democracy rather than seeking compensation by suspending benefits enjoyed by the Tech firms in Nigeria markets.
Pointing to the advancement that technology brings towards transitioning from industrial economy to a digital economy. he added that the sooner, the better, but we have to of course take necessary lessons from UNCITRAL arbitration processes as well, because they have regulatory models that will be relevant in resolving disputes in the tech-media space.
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According to him, there is need for a rules-based system that is open and inclusive in line with the UN Protocols on Trade. “We have signalled the UNCITRAL about our intention to proceed with the process of dialogue that is under way, to forge consensus on safeguarding the interest of millions of people and businesses. The negotiation will benefit the businesses, especially small-to-medium-enterprises and they will be able to transact across border with greater certainty and less costs”.
Jonah further stated that reprioritizing digital policy to reflect public interest requires consolidated efforts to build more solid partnership with companies like Google, Facebook, and other Big Tech platforms. It is expected that the bargain can facilitate trade documentations and data flows, that can significantly reduce cost of transacting digital trade, said Jonah; “ when it comes to some of the other areas like the flow of data, the more we are able to allow data to flow freely with appropriate safeguards, especially with respect to privacy and so on, the more the tech companies will be able to aggregate this data, analyse it and be able to come up with better services and solutions and products”
Jonah’s comments comes as governments around the world consider regulations for their own jurisdictions. He said, “We want our broadcast climate to become more conducive, increase public confidence in matters of governance and public accountability, create jobs and become a solution to the problem of rising digital trade dispute in the world today and we were on our way to finding really fair solutions for both parties,” Jonah said.
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According to Jonah, “alternative dispute resolution systems in resolving cross-border trade disputes is very necessary and vital”. It is important that the regular man and woman on the streets of Lagos, Benin, Kano or Abuja is confident where there is a digital trade dispute over a good or service that is of much importance to him, it is expected to be resolve in a manner that will safeguards his concerns around privacy, safety and economic gains based on international and local protocols, rules and regulations. Additionally, these mechanisms serve as a pilot to assist in the usage of alternative dispute resolution and other new technologies for digital publishers in Nigeria and other part of the world.
He also emphasized that, “Laws should be written in a simple, easy-to-understand language, comprehensible to individual capabilities. Organs and Agencies of Government have respective and important functions in ensuring ease of living and doing business in a dynamic society like Nigeria.
Jonah also spoke on the need to cut down obsolete and irrelevant laws, some of which have been in existence since the colonial era. He emphasized the vast and lucrative opportunities of the digital broadcast space for inclusive and sustainable development adding that the arbitration rules would ultimately serve Nigerian and the world interest
