APBN Backs NCS on National Chief IT Officer, NSP

The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) has thrown its weight behind the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) calls on the need to establish Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCITO) of the Federation.

‎Speaking on the state of the nation, during the Associations’ meeting hosted by NCS at its national secretariat in Lagos, Mr. Foluso Fasoto, president/chairman of Council/board, said that President Muhammadu Buhari's led administration should consider NCS' position on the matter as smart process for better IT policy direction and enabling more investments in the intelligence sector of society to tackle issues on security.

According to him, managers of the nation's resources should ditch the idea of politicking with the economic develoment.

Earlier, Professor Adesola Aderounmu, president of NCS said that for the sake of enhancing the deployment of ICT to advance the values of wealth creation and effective leadership in the country, the Federal Government should immediately establish Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCITO) of the Federation.

Aderounmu said that the pending National Software Policy (NSP) also demands accelerated approval as a blueprint aimed at positioning Nigeria in the league of software engineering and digital knowledge development economies.

"The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCITO) of the Federation and the National Software Policy are crucial now than ever in implementing e-Government strategies as imperatives for corruption-free, equitable, productive and knowledge-based society.

"All over the world, IT is a major driver of the economy. Ours shouldn't be different. Being the acknowledged professional authority in this sector, our aims are socio-economic growth, job creation poverty reduction, and deepened diversification of the economy. Indeed, technology holds significant promise as a major revenue earner," The NCS President said.

‎He said that Professional bodies' place in the attainment of economic development in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.

"National policies, economic or financial, can only make the desired impact and make our dear country great, if implemented by qualified persons," Aderounmu added.

Nodding in agreement, Fasoto said, on the issue of security for instance, ‎while APBN commends President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Federal Government for tackling the insecurity problem headlong, however, the members would like to recommend more investment in the intelligence sector of the security.

"Let there be more of electronic security surveillance across the nation to replace some of the current human surveillance programmes. Never again should Nigerian Police as well as the military be subjected to financial temptation through inadequate reward and welfare package system. We have experts (such as Nigeria Computer Society, etc.) in our midst which are ready to partner with government to ensure the realization of this objective," he noted.

‎The APBN President also lamented against eleven (11) months of instability in policy direction of the economy as most of the policy makers, since January, 2015 were either on the field campaigning for electorates’ votes or awaiting Presidential appointments.

"We have no other country to call our own hence we are poised to engage governments at all levels on good governance.‎..Where will Nigeria be in the year 2030? APBN says 'we want to be among the first world countries'. We are ready to assist the Government to make it happen", he said.

‎‎The Body said that impunity should be eliminated from the national life while the rule of law is entrenched to facilitate a reliable electoral system which by extension guarantees credible people occupying public offices nationwide.