Shittu, Comm. Minister Pledges to Partner NCS on IT Issues

Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, has avowed the present administration’s resolve to partner with the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) on information technology (IT) related matters.

Shittu made the promise while welcoming in his office NCS delegation led by Professor Adesola Aderounmu, the president.

Minister said he welcomes positive and impactful ideas that will bring development and growth to Nigeria through IT.

According to him, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government would makes Local Content issue his priority to generate employment and capacity building for the young people.

Shittu reiterated that he was ready to learn, to listen, and collaborate with NCS in all IT related issues.

Ealier, Professor Aderounmu said that in its over Thirty Six (36) years of existence, the Nigeria Computer Society has gotten the Federal Government to pass Act Number 49 of 1993 establishing Computer Professionals Registration Council (CPN) which regulates the profession and practice of information technology in Nigeria.

He recalled that NCS also worked with the Federal Government to establish the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) which formulates policies and develops IT initiatives and recently worked with the Federal Government in establishing the Ministry of Communications Technology.

He told the Minister that “The importance of the IT sector as an agent of change and development cannot be overemphasized. All over the world, IT is a major driver of the economy. 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.

“In developing this agenda, NCS is firmly committed to partnering with the FGN to build an inclusive, prosperous and digitally enabled nation. We recommend the identified issues high level and prominence on the agenda to leverage IT to achieve the goals of the Buhari administration.

IT For Socio-Economic Growth

“While the impact of technology is being felt more than ever before, there is still a need to fully ensure technology enables social and economic transformation that inclusively benefits all Nigerians”.

He said that effective and efficient exploitation of IT is essential for the future of the nation’s economic well being.

“In this regard, we recommend that priority be given to the use of registered local IT professionals and registered local IT companies to execute IT jobs. In particular such IT firms and professionals should be involved in Strategic IT projects.

“NCS additionally calls for a deliberate focus on youth innovation to generate massive employment for millions of our youth through riding on the startup boom in Nigeria. Incubation and accelerator centers similar to IDEA centers should be established to engender nationwide spread. Youth strengths and energies need to be utilized to meet present needs and also to prepare the nation on a sound footing for the emerging next generation.

“These measures will create jobs and expand the economy in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) subscribed to by Nigeria,” he said.

Professionalism In Governance

The NCS President also advocated that information technology should be used to improve all strategic facets of governance in Nigeria.

According to him, “In particular NCS is committed to the fight against corruption through technology and strongly recommends the use of innovative IT tools and solutions to frontally address the major concerns of bribery and corruption facing the nation.

Developing and deploying IT to facilitate transparency and accountability in government will build a globally respected nation whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world”.

He said that the Communication Technology Ministry along with other IT agencies in Nigeria possess the ability to resolve Nigeria job crises and further create wealth for the nation similar to the IT revolution going on in India.

“Hence there is the urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to: Consider the appointment of seasoned IT professionals (registered members of NCS and CPN) to head IT agencies in the country; appoint seasoned IT professionals on the boards of MDAs to maximize  and deepen the benefits of electronic governance and digital transformation in Nigeria; direct BPP to amend the pre-qualification requirements for IT projects to include Evidence of registration with CPN and NCS in addition to the newly introduced pre-qualification requirements such as evidence of registration with PENCOM, and evidence of remittance of fund to ITF.

“Mandate MDAs to appoint IT professionals as directors of IT, direct all MDAs to establish IT career structure if not yet in place, implement the use of CPN registration as a condition to employ IT professional staff in MDAs to level 10 as approved and gazetted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (the Federal Government already implemented this condition for professionals in Engineering, Health, etc.).

“Mandate NCS in collaboration with NITDA to supervise all IT projects to be implemented in Nigeria.

Security
He added that, to fully pursue the administration’s goal of ensuring improved security for the nation and its citizens, NCS recommends that IT in Security be placed high on the agenda. Commitment in this regard will exemplify greater determination and focus to defeat Boko Haram and other security threats.

“NCS is committed to working with the FGN to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigerians.

NCS concurs with President Mohammadu Buhari on the harmonization of the national database for Nigeria,” he said, among other issues NCS wants the Federal Government to look into.