By Mohammed Mohammed
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Tuesday said it has commenced prosecution of 125 Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs),
for violating federal government’s policy on clearance of Information Technology (IT) projects.
The breach, NITDA says has been referred to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for appropriate investigation and prosecution in line with the extant law.
Principal and relevant officers of these MDAs will be held liable for violation of these regulations in line Section 17 (3) (a), the agency said.
The violation contravenes the circular of 59736/S.2/C.II/125, which was issued on August 31 mandating all MDAs which is in consonance for the promotion of local content and executive order 003 and 005.
NITDA’s CEO, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, in a statement made available to SHARPEDGENews, re-echoed President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives during the e-governance conferences that all government funded ICT projects must be cleared by NITDA before implementation.
Abdullahi, said: “The Public may recall that 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 violation of these guidelines constitute an offence 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 violation of these regulations in line Section 17 (3) (a).
According to him, 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.
He said NITDA is resolutely committed to enforcing its guidelines and in discharging its mandate for the development of IT in Nigeria.