NITDA bill: Another chapter in IT development
After years of delay, the Federal Government last month assented to a bill giving legal backing to the National Information Technology Development Agency. JONAH IBOMA examines the implication of this in Nigeria’s quest for IT development.
Information Technology is recognised globally as a means of ensuring quick development in the developing world. This is exemplified by the achievements of India, China where expertise in software and hardware aspects of IT brought about economic boom.
In recognition of this, Nigeria established a unit in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to oversee the process of implementation of a blueprint on IT growth in Nigeria. The unit was founded in April 2001 and named the National Information Technology Development Agency with the late Prof. Gabriel Ajayi, as pioneer director general.
Government had earlier gathered some IT experts who developed an IT Policy for the country. Part of the objectives of NITDA were to ensure the implementation of the National IT Policy and to coordinate the development and ensure regulation of the IT sector.
These two developments attracted interest from the local and international IT community, who felt that Nigeria was then on the path towards becoming a technology powerhouse. With NITDA securing a permanent office in Abuja, it attracted some good mention in the press as it began mass circulation of the IT policy and organising series of events to popularise it.
But, despite government’s avowed interest at making Nigeria an IT capable nation by 2007 as outlined in the National IT policy, NITDA remained just as a unit in the science and technology ministry as there was no enabling law to back it. It was not till April 24th, 2007 that the Federal Government finally signed a bill that established the agency.
As a result of the delay in giving NITDA legal teeth, its programmes suffered massively. Many of the goals in the IT policy were not unachieved. A major one was the plan to train 500,000 IT professionals by the end 2005. A major reason for the inability of the agency to achieve the goal was the lack of budget provision for it as it was just an agency that had to wait for the budgetary provisions of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Also, the failure of government to provide the takeoff grant of $100m as outlined in the National IT Policy did not help matters. The National IT Development Fund, which was to provide money for the development of specific areas of the IT industry, could not be established as well.
Another areas One of the areas where this came to fore was in the development of electronic government solutions, when a disagreement between persons pushing some solutions led to legal action. NITDA, which was expected to help resolve the matter was however unable to join in the suit due to its non-recognition as a legal entity.
Speaking on the Act on Thursday, DG of NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, expressed belief that with the passage of the bill, these problems could now be overcome. Angaye said a National IT Fund was being established immediately and a 19-man advisory board had also been put in place.
The President of the Nigeria Computer Society, Dr. Chris Nwannena, expressed confidence that the passing of the bill would herald a new chapter in Nigeria’s desire towards developing IT.
But it does appear that there are some challenges ahead. One is in setting achievable goals and ensuring compliance. Some people have argued that one of the reasons for the failure in achieving the goals of the IT policy was the lack of measurable milestones in the document which could be used to monitor the level of progress made. One of those who held this was former President of the computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Gabriel Obi.
Information Technology is recognised globally as a means of ensuring quick development in the developing world. This is exemplified by the achievements of India, China where expertise in software and hardware aspects of IT brought about economic boom.
In recognition of this, Nigeria established a unit in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to oversee the process of implementation of a blueprint on IT growth in Nigeria. The unit was founded in April 2001 and named the National Information Technology Development Agency with the late Prof. Gabriel Ajayi, as pioneer director general.
Government had earlier gathered some IT experts who developed an IT Policy for the country. Part of the objectives of NITDA were to ensure the implementation of the National IT Policy and to coordinate the development and ensure regulation of the IT sector.
These two developments attracted interest from the local and international IT community, who felt that Nigeria was then on the path towards becoming a technology powerhouse. With NITDA securing a permanent office in Abuja, it attracted some good mention in the press as it began mass circulation of the IT policy and organising series of events to popularise it.
But, despite government’s avowed interest at making Nigeria an IT capable nation by 2007 as outlined in the National IT policy, NITDA remained just as a unit in the science and technology ministry as there was no enabling law to back it. It was not till April 24th, 2007 that the Federal Government finally signed a bill that established the agency.
As a result of the delay in giving NITDA legal teeth, its programmes suffered massively. Many of the goals in the IT policy were not unachieved. A major one was the plan to train 500,000 IT professionals by the end 2005. A major reason for the inability of the agency to achieve the goal was the lack of budget provision for it as it was just an agency that had to wait for the budgetary provisions of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Also, the failure of government to provide the takeoff grant of $100m as outlined in the National IT Policy did not help matters. The National IT Development Fund, which was to provide money for the development of specific areas of the IT industry, could not be established as well.
Another areas One of the areas where this came to fore was in the development of electronic government solutions, when a disagreement between persons pushing some solutions led to legal action. NITDA, which was expected to help resolve the matter was however unable to join in the suit due to its non-recognition as a legal entity.
Speaking on the Act on Thursday, DG of NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, expressed belief that with the passage of the bill, these problems could now be overcome. Angaye said a National IT Fund was being established immediately and a 19-man advisory board had also been put in place.
The President of the Nigeria Computer Society, Dr. Chris Nwannena, expressed confidence that the passing of the bill would herald a new chapter in Nigeria’s desire towards developing IT.
But it does appear that there are some challenges ahead. One is in setting achievable goals and ensuring compliance. Some people have argued that one of the reasons for the failure in achieving the goals of the IT policy was the lack of measurable milestones in the document which could be used to monitor the level of progress made. One of those who held this was former President of the computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Gabriel Obi.
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