The Management of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has clarified its initiative on the registration and licensing of IT Contractors and service providers.
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr. Ibrahim Pantami, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said the clarification became necessary after its attention was drawn to a publication attributed to the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) advising NITDA not to proceed with the registration of Information Technology Contractors and Service Providers as mandated by the Agency through a Press Statement issued 12th January 2018.
NITDA said that though it acknowledges that the Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria as a Council is mandated to have control and supervision of the (Computing) profession as provided by Section 1(2) of the Computer professionals (Registration council of Nigeria) Act, but the registration of IT Contractors and Service Providers is in line with its mandate.
The agency noted that Section 6 (a, f) NITDA Act 2007, mandates it 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; and to render advisory services on all information technology matters to the public and private sectors.
“It is within the regulatory and developmental role of NITDA to ensure that IT contractual practises and project delivery in the public sector are done in accordance with best practices, within acceptable standards and in the interest of the development of IT in Nigeria.”
NITDA further said that as the clearance house for IT projects of the Federal Government, it has the responsibility to ensure that IT projects are executed by professional firms.
“NITDA as a regulator will not relent in its quest to improve IT practises and expose projects that are ill conceived or poorly executed.”
“The registration process will therefore ensure professionalism in IT service delivery, value for national investments in IT and to weed out quacks who may seek to take advantage of public procurements for selfish interests.”
“The process will also provide a detailed database of indigenous IT capabilities in Nigeria to guide the government in planning IT projects and for the promotion of Nigerian content through appropriate use of public sector spend in IT.”
NITDA further reiterated that the process will lead to a review of failed projects with a view at curating knowledge on factors that may have led to failure.
“NITDA in partnership with other relevant authorities shall take appropriate action where fraud may have led to failure.”
While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support and encouragement in delivering its mandate, NITDA however noted that several indigenous IT Contractors and Service Providers have commenced the process of registration.