NCS faults NITDA registration, licensing of IT contractors

ITREALMS:

Umbrella organization of all Information Technology professionals, interest groups and stakeholders in the country, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has faulted the registration and licensing of Information Technology (IT) contractors in the country by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), reports ITRealms.

According to the President of NCS, Prof. Adesola G. Aderounmu, this exercise was never in the mandate of NITDA but that of Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

This, he said, follows a policy statement released by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Director General, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami on the 12^th February, 2018, which on general principle is to register and license all IT contractors in Nigeria.

“Our position is that this is not part of NITDA’s mandate because as the name suggests this agency is to plan, promote and develop regulatory framework and guidelines as stated in NITDA Act 2007, section 6a,” he said.

NCS also pointed out that the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) Act 49 of 1993 is saddled with the mandate to register, license, supervise and control the profession as stated in CPN Act section 1 (2).

Therefore, NCS, he said, frowns at the policy state, which is capable of confusing the general public to create an uncoordinated approach to policy issues and both Acts of Parliament as stated earlier.

NCS, he further said, belief that NITDA’s mandate is to ensure seamless cooperation and interaction towards the use of IT as a development tool for the country.

In addition, NCS commends the approach and wisdom of the Presidential Executive Order 005 of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, which emphasized professionalism, stressing that the Public Procurement Act 2007 with particular reference to section 19 if properly implemented will promote best practices professionally.

“On a related note CPN Act section 22, states that failure to engage professional practitioners is an offence in Nigeria punishable under the Act,” he declared.

NCS, therefore advised NITDA in its advocacy capacity not to embark on registering and licensing of IT Contractors and service providers (Registered IT professionals) activities and instead concentrate on developmental issues which could be jointly achieved collaboratively.

“CPN is the only agency with the mandate to register and license IT professionals and contractors in Nigeria,” NCS insisted.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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