The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), says it has initiated enforcement action against one hundred and twenty-five (125) Ministries, Departments and Agencies (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.
The IT capacity building agency says the enforcement of the guidelines underscores the Government’s determination at ensuring compliance with regulatory instruments, guidelines for clearance of all IT projects by MDAs and federal government-owned companies.
In a statement signed by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, its Director-General/CEO in Abuja, NITDA noted that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in his speech at the 12th edition of the e-Nigeria Conference, Exhibition and Awards, last week 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 guideline 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.
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 a violation of these Guidelines constitute an offense 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 the 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.
