ICT: The unending controversy over Orosanya report

President Jonathan receiving the report from Mr. Orosanya

At the presentation of the Steve Orosanya’s committee report to Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan recently the tune of the report no doubt took most stakeholders by surprise.

This was in spite of the fact that its objectives was not limited to the information and communications technologies (ICT), the aspect of the report that has refused to die down was the part on the collapsing of the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) as a department of the Ministry of Communications Technology, while a federal government-own company, Galaxy Backbone plc be elevated into a departmental agency.

Despite the argument for and against the Orosanya’s committee report, a lot of undertones seem to be playing out among other notable recommendations of the committee. ITRealms Online investigations revealed the Steven Oronsaya’s Report penciled some 38 agencies for outright scrapping and 52 others for merger.

For Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the chief executive officer of Teledom Group and former president of 

Ilukwe, MD Galaxy plc

the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the committee should have consulted with stakeholders, which to the best of his knowledge was not done, especially pertaining to its intended recommendations, such as swapping of responsibility between NITDA and Galaxy or the cases of outright scrap and merger in certain cases.

Both, Ekuwem had note are government organs dully set up for specific reasons appealing to government at a certain time and if such organs are no longer meeting the set goals, of course, there is need to re-engineering them, but definitely not the way Orosanya report went about it.

He, therefore, called for caution as the presidential white paper is being expected, insisting that stakeholders in the ICT sector ought to have been engaged on extensive consultations on such recommendations that has the ability to affecting their interest and businesses.

In his reaction, the chief executive officer of Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Mr. Muhammed Shehu told ITRealms Online that the report would rub-off negatively on the Industry if implemented the way it was submitted.

He also advised the federal government to be cautious in dealing with such sensitive issues as to swapping of roles, merging or even outright scrap, stressing that though NITDA may be making some inroads, which may not be comparable to some other agencies of government, thorough investigations should have been carried out separately to ascertain the hindrances of such an organization and how to mitigate the challenges.

He maintained that the role of NiTDA, for instance, is clear in terms of its acting as certifying agency for IT projects and equipments for the country, noting that NITDA’s mandate is quite diverse and vast, focusing on the responsibilities of the agency on fostering the development and growth of IT in the country.

Prof. Angaye, DG, NiTDA

In an effort towards ensuring that the IT policy's implementation proceeds with maximum effectiveness, NITDA regulates, monitors, evaluates, and verifies progress on an ongoing basis under the supervision and coordination of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

Above all, he pointed out that NiTDA’s mandate makes it possible for it to operate and implement the National IT policy and to give effect to provisions of the NITDA Act of 2007, which could actually be a hurdle in adapting to Orosanya’s report.

He called on all stakeholders, mostly the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and its allied organization in the large ICT sector to unite so as to correct the current impression from the report and ensure that government’s decision will not spell doom for the private sector, which commands the largest number of professionals.

Recent chat with ITRealms on a number of issues including the Orosanya’s report, General Manager, Federal Public Sector and E-Government at Galaxy Backbone plc, Mr. Frank Ugbodaga, said that they did not lobby for such recommendations, because Galaxy mandate is very clear in procurement of ICT infrastructure for the MDAs, even as they have a full-house of activities.

Ugbodaga, who dwelt on ‘The Diffusion of Broadband Access and Delivering Public Services On-line’ noted that Galaxy was not a creation of NITDA as being argued in some quarters, but was created by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as a result of recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee on harmonization of ICT infrastructure and services in government (2004 – 2006).

He pointed out that the ‘Oronsanya’ committee report was not new, but reinforces a concept that has proven to be the most successful model for adopting ICT in governments the world over.

According to him, clear government mandate, shows that Galaxy is government service provision company for shared ICT infrastructure and services, but bedeviled by stiff resistance to change, adding that Galaxy’s clearing house function is not a monopoly, but serves to streamline collaboration and partnership with private sector and in turn energize and challenge the ICT industry.

Obviously adding his voice to the debate, the Minister for Science and Technology Minister, Prof Ita Ewa, kicked against recommended merger of agencies and called for a second look at the Orosanya's committee.

Above all, stakeholders were of diverge opinions on the recommendation, although most expressed shock that such a committee would be set up without core involvement of professionals and stakeholders, and yet it came out eventually with such recommendations; speaks volume of laxity on the part of government and precisely shows that NITDA has a lot of work to do to prove its innocence and continued existences to the Nigerian population both in indeed and actions in line with its mandate.

Remmy Nweke
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