Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on Digital, Information and Communications Technology, ICT, has pledged its determination to pass the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, bill for the purpose of ensuring ICT development across the country.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who made the promise while declaring open, a public hearing on two Bills at the National Assembly, Abuja, urged stakeholders to make valid contributions that will guide lawmakers in their legislative duties.
According to Abbas, the institute, when created, will train young Nigerians to become world class programmers and software developers.
He, however, maintained that the institute will also give young Nigerians the opportunity to acquire relevant skills and critical compatencies required to participate in new global information and communications technology.
‘A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Idanre, Ondo State to Provide for Full Time Courses, And Appointment of a Provost to Carry Out Administration and Discipline of Students and For Related Matters and A Bill for an Act to Promote Information Technology Education, Entrepreneurship and Infrastructure Development Across the Six Geo-Political Zones, as well as the Hub for the South-West Zone and For Related Matters’.
While the second bill seeks to promote entrepreneurship and infrastructural development across the six geopolitcal zones, he also stated that it is in recognition of the transformative potentials of ICT in driving economic growth, fostering innovation and empowering youths across the country.
In its presentation, NITDA rejected the bill seeking to establish ICT hubs across the six geo-political zones on the grounds that it would cause unnecessary overlap and conflict of role with its mandate.
Director-General of the agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, who was represented by a Director, Emmanuel Edet said the agency is not only a regulator, but also an enabler with a clear mandate to ensure that the contributions of ICT to the economic growth of the nation is felt fully in all sectors.
The House Committee Chairman, Stanley Olajide promised his committee’s readiness to ensure that the input of these stakeholders are galvanised into a workable report that will birth a legal framework for the growth and development of the ICT sector in Nigeria.
