Employment Opportunities for Nigerians Through Social Media Firms’ Local Offices
Senator Ned Nwoko claims that establishing local offices for TikTok, X, and other social media platforms in Nigeria could create around 200,000 jobs for youths. He supports a bill aimed at holding these companies accountable and ensuring tax repatriation, while also proposing regulation for bloggers. Nwoko’s comments highlight the need for Nigeria to assert control over its digital economy.
Ned Nwoko, a Senator from Delta North Senatorial District, has asserted that social media giants such as TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) could generate up to 200,000 jobs for Nigerian youth if they were required to establish physical offices in Nigeria. Nwoko expressed these views during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), wherein he advocated for the Bill to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, currently under consideration in the National Assembly.
The senator emphasized that the proposed legislation is imperative, claiming that Nigeria has allowed major technology entities and social media companies to operate without sufficient oversight. He remarked, “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.”
Nwoko further clarified that the bill aims to compel social media and online businesses to set up physical offices in Nigeria, thereby allowing the country to take charge of its digital domain. He pointed out, “They make billions of dollars from our people, yet they do not pay the right taxes,” expressing the necessity for these companies to adhere to local regulations, just as is done in countries like France and the UK.
In addition, the senator highlighted the fiscal implications of the bill, proposing that it would facilitate tax repatriation from foreign businesses. He noted that Nigeria loses at least $10 billion annually due to the absence of these companies’ local offices, stressing, “This cannot continue.”
Another significant component of the bill pertains to the regulation of bloggers and digital content creators in Nigeria. Nwoko stated that bloggers should possess a registered and verifiable address, arguing that like other professions, they should adhere to established standards and be held accountable via recognized organizations.
Notably, Nigeria previously mandated X to establish a local office as a condition for lifting its ban on the platform in 2021, although compliance was not achieved until the company was sold to Elon Musk in 2022. Currently, Meta is the only social media conglomerate with a physical presence in Nigeria, though it has recently downsized its operations in the country.
Ned Nwoko’s advocacy for the Bill to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act underscores the potential economic benefits of establishing local offices for social media firms in Nigeria. By compelling these companies to operate within the country, thousands of job opportunities could be created, substantial tax revenues repatriated, and regulatory standards instilled for bloggers. This initiative not only aims to enhance employment for Nigerian youth but also seeks to ensure accountability for tech giants operating in the nation.
Original Source: nairametrics.com
