National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said that it has so far saved the sum of N22.45 billion for the Federal Government through the clearance of Information Technology projects of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
Kashifu Abdullahi, director general of NITDA revealed this in Abuja at a media briefing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Agency.
It would be recalled that NITDA, as the clearing House of IT Projects in Nigeria, has been mandated to clear all IT Projects in line with the policy objectives of the Federal Government to maximise transparency and accountability in carrying out IT Projects by Public Institutions.
Consequently, the Federal Government issued a Circular No SGF/6/S.19/T/65 of 18th April, 2006, directing all public institutions planning to embark on any IT project to obtain clearance from NITDA.
Against the backdrop of the enforcement of the policy which started in December 2016, Abdullahi said the IT Clearance has saved over 22.45 billion Naira for the Federal Government.
He further noted that with the release of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), NITDA has created a new industry, stimulated new business models, and empowered thousands of Nigerians through capacity building and skills development.
“We licensed 72 Data Protection Compliance Organizations (DPCOs), created over 2,686 new jobs roles in the industry, developed a new data protection sector valued at around N2.2 billion.
“The Agency has also successfully investigated and issued data breach fines to many organisations, including public institutions.
“More importantly, other countries are looking up to the Agency for guidance on Data Protection Regulation,” he explained.
Also speaking, Dr. Isa Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, said the IT Project Clearance of the present administration was designed to fight corruption.
His words: “This is one of the strategic areas where corruption has been fought in the public institutions.
“We have a situation where an IT project will be brought to NITDA and the Agency will bring down the cost by 30 per cent.
“I know of a single IT project that was brought to NITDA and it saved over N2billion for the Federal Government.”
Pantami pointed out that earlier before 2016, the mandate of IT clearance of MDAs was non-functional.
He commended the transparency and integrity exhibited by NITDA in the course of clearing IT projects for MDAs.
Commenting further on the milestones recorded by NITDA over the last 20 years, Abdullahi said the Agency has “played critical roles in national development by providing the legal framework for information technology development, pioneering IT developmental projects, facilitating access to information technology goods and services, catalysing job creation and ensuring national security.”
NITDA was established in April 18th, 2001, following the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the National Information Technology Policy in March, 2001.
The National Assembly passed into law the NITDA Act, 2007, which mandates the Agency to regulate, develop, and advise on Information Technology practices in Nigeria.
