Nigerian govt moves to enforce guidelines for content development in ICT

The enforcement of guidelines for Nigerian content development in ICT and Guidelines for clearance of IT projects by MDAs and the Federal Government owned companies has commenced.

This was made known in a statement on Tuesday by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) which also informed that it had initiated enforcement action against one hundred and twenty five (125) MDAs for violation of the directive of the Federal Government.

In the statement issued by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General/CEO Chief Information Technology Officer for Nigeria Corporate Headquarters, Abuja, NITDA said that it was working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all government funded ICT projects are reviewed and cleared by the Agency before implementation.

The statement by NITDA reads in full; “NITDA hereby notifies the general public, MDAs and Government owned companies that the Agency has initiated enforcement action against one hundred and twenty five (125) MDAs for violation of the directive of the Federal Government issued vide Circular with Ref No. 59736/S.2/C.II/125, issued on 31st August, 2018 which mandates all MDAs and Federal Government Agencies to clear all IT Projects with NITDA before implementation and to comply with the Regulatory Framework for Promotion of Local Content in IT in line with Executive Orders 003 & 005.

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“To underscore Government’s determination at ensuring compliance to these regulatory instruments, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in his Speech at the 12th edition of the e-Nigeria Conference, Exhibition and Awards, on Thursday 28th November, 2019, reiterated his directives given at the 2018 edition of e-Nigeria, that NITDA is to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all government funded ICT projects are reviewed and cleared by the Agency before implementation.

“The Public may recall that NITDA had issued two regulatory instruments for the Promotion of Indigenous Content Development in ICT and the Guidelines for Clearance of Information Technology Projects by Public Institutions. These regulatory instruments were issued pursuant to Section 6 (a) (b) (c) of the NITDA Act 2007, therefore violation of these Guidelines constitute an offence pursuant to Section 17(4) of the Act and punishable under Section 18 of the same Act. NITDA has referred this matter to the Nigerian Police Force for appropriate investigation and prosecution in line with the extant law. Principal and relevant officers of these MDAs will be held liable for violation of these regulations in line Section 17 (3) (a).

“All erring parties are advised in their own interest to comply forthwith by submitting all projects for Clearance with NITDA and to procure IT goods and services in line with the Regulatory Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT. NITDA remains resolutely committed to enforcing its guidelines and in discharging its mandate for the development of IT in Nigeria.

“The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is a Federal Government Agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. NITDA was established in April 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy as well as coordinate general IT development and regulation in the country.

“Specifically, Section 6(a, b, c, f & m) of the Act mandates NITDA to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of Information Technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria; provide guidelines to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure for information technology and systems application and development in Nigeria for public and private sectors, urban-rural development, the economy and the government; render advisory services in all information technology matters to the public and private sectors and accelerate internet and intranet penetration in Nigeria and promote sound Internet Governance by giving effect to the Second Schedule of the Act.”

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