Jack, NITDA DG Suspended for Financial Infractions, Others- Shittu

Barr. Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, has given reasons why he suspended Mr. Peter Jack, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) during a ICT media parley in Lagos.

Shittu said the Jack, who was appointed two years ago as the fourth DG of the government agency saddled with the responsibility of building IT capacity among Nigeria, especially the youths was allegedly involved in some infractions.

“I suspended Mr. Peter Jack because we discovered some infractions in NITDA, many of which are financial and irregularities in the appointment of staff,” Shittu told ICT media.

He explained that before now NITDA has about 70 staff for a company which has existed for so many years, but abruptly the staff strength increase to 400.

The Minister said the appointments were made without application letters and interviews, no skill gap assessment to know if vacancies existed.

He stressed also that no regards were made to him as the minister in the appointments and spending of such money, since NITDA presently has no board.

“When we discovered those infractions, I issued him a query, but because his response was not satisfactory, I have to suspend him pending full investigation. The law allows me to suspend but it does not allow me to dismiss. After the full investigation, if it requires me to write to the President for the man to be dismissed, I would do it. And if at the end of the day, it is found out that the man is clean, then he will be restored to his position,” he said.