By Martin Ekpeke
The disagreement between the National Information Technology development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) over who register IT contractors continued yesterday.
The NCS in a statement signed by its President, Prof. G.A. Aderounmu, insisted that the call for another registration and licensing of IT contractors by NITDA is tantamount to double registration which is contrary to the Federal Government’s policy on ease of doing business.
NCS believes the call may lead to the registration of quacks and non professionals, as the only body recognized by law to register players in the industry is the Computer registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).
It also noted that failed and substandard PUBLIC IT projects cited by NITDA should have been reported to CPN for necessary action, as IT contracts should only be awarded to CPN registered members; the list is available online and in accordance with Public Procurement Act 2007.
“Registering and licensing IT contractors is not within the mandate of NITDA which is to create framework, guidelines and policy to develop IT. When properly implemented, it will solve the problem of unemployment in Nigeria which is the focus of the present administration,” NCS insisted.
The Nigeria Computer Society highlighted the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) mandate of Act 49 of June 1993 as follows:
- Membership registration: CPN Act section 2(2)
Persons admitted to the membership of the profession shall be registered as members of the profession in various categories including the corporate member category.
- List: CPN Act section 8(1)
CPN has the mandate to keep, publish, print the list of all registered professional and is available for inspection for members of the public at all reasonable time. This has been in operation since 1998.
iii. Licensing: CPN Act section 18(2b)
It prescribes the form of licence to be issued annually.
