Draft ICT policy: DSA boss applauds CommTech, seeks extension of deadline

Mrs. Nkem Nweke, ED, Operations, DSA

The Executive Director, Operations at the DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA), Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke has commended the Minister of Communications Technology (CommTech) for living up to her promise to seek stakeholders comments on the draft national policy on the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Speaking at the weekend, she said that this approach is the first of its kind by the Ministry since its creation and should be commended, urging the Minister to extend the comment period by one week due to the period lost to the fuel subsidy removal protest in the country.

As said by her, already several stakeholders’ organizations are warming up to ensure inputs from their various end to ensure their comments are included, but with the extension of the deadline, would really boost the quality of inputs.

“Fulfilling this promise by the minister means there is hope for the sector and Nigerians generally,” she said.

Mrs. Nweke also urged stakeholders to concentrate on topics capable of moving the ICT sector forward rather than individualism, noting that every input made at this time would aid the ministry led by Mrs. Johnson to reposition, especially as the stakeholders work towards actualizing the converged ICT regulation for the sector at large.

She also said that with the calling off the strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, that lots of issues are waiting professionals in the industry, whose holidays period have been extended immediately after the Christmas and New Year with the strike declared by Labour in response to the Federal Government’s hike of pump prices from N65 to N140.

The DSA boss explained that with the suspension of strike, stakeholders definitely would need an extended little time to contribute meaningfully to the draft national ICT policy, which current deadline is next week Monday.

She noted that CommTech Minister may be working on schedule, but maintained on the need to at least extend the comment period by one week, especially given that people’s access to the document could be limited during the strike that last for one week.

She recalled that Ministry of Communications Technology, has last week Monday unveiled the draft National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy document on its website for comments by stakeholders in the country.

The draft policy was uploaded Monday morning in fulfillment of pledge by CommTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson on the Ministry’s website at http://commtech.gov.ng and the Ministry’s Blog at http://blog.commtech.gov.ng.

Noteworthy is that the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Mrs. Efem Nkanga had said that the 55-page policy document is the harmonization of the disparate policies governing the ICT industry.

Remmy Nweke

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