In line with its mandate to regulate the practice of Information Technology, IT, in the public sector, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has called on all the Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to submit their IT Projects for clearance before execution.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, in a statement on Wednesday, emphasized that failure to do so would constitute a breach of the Agency’s regulations and is considered a criminal offence, “punishable under the NITDA Act 2007.”
The statement read in part: “The IT Projects Clearance regulation is designed to ensure that IT projects are properly conceptualized and executed in line with global best practices.
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“Furthermore, it is designed to support Mr President’s fight against corruption by curbing the wastages and mismanagement of public funds on frivolous IT projects.
“The unanimous verdict of MDAs and other Federal Public Institutions that have gone through the process is that, in addition to compliance with Federal Government directives, it is worthwhile and value adding.
“Furthermore, the process facilitated a saving of over 13 billion naira to the Federal Government.
“The automation of the process enhances transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness in the process of obtaining clearance. “Henceforth, MDAs, Government owned companies and other Federal Public Institutions are expected to submit their projects via the IT Projects Clearance portal: https://clearance.nitda.gov.ng/
“It may be recalled that a Federal Government Circular 59736/S.2C.II/125 of 31st August, 2018 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, mandates all MDAs to submit their IT Projects for clearance by NITDA.
“It went further to state that Government Agencies should ensure “…strict compliance as future non-compliance will be considered a violation, which will be appropriately sanctioned….”
“Furthermore, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, during the 2018 edition of the e-Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition in November, directed that “…Defaulters of IT Clearance among the public establishments are to be reported to government….”
