PRESS RELEASE:
In a quest to sanitize the nation to a zero corrupt free, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu and Management team paid a working visit to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) corporate headquarters in Abuja to reaffirm its support and collaboration in the fight against corruption.
The Director General of NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FBCS while welcoming EFCC officials stated that the visit is key to the growth and development of the country, channeled towards the fight against corruption to save funds for the government.
“Anything you do in the aspect of anti-corruption will surely lead to retaliation by perpetrators, as long as legal is made illegal and legitimate is made illegitimate, it is corruption, more effort is needed to fight such crimes”, he said.
According to a slogan by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari which says “If you fight corruption, corruption will fight you back” which EFCC is working all round to curb the menace of such act, he added.
Pantami stated that the effort of EFCC in the fight against corruption is for the country at large, any nation that fights corruption is doing it for the develop and better the living standards of citizens living within.
NITDA is the IT regulatory body and also a clearing house for all IT projects and infrastructural development in the country. The Agency solicits EFCC’s support to enforce the IT clearance law which the Federal Government mandated NITDA to handle the clearance of all IT procurement by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA).
Some MDAs repeatedly engage in IT projects, which there is no provision for its sustainability afterward. Information Technology (IT) is one of the areas which has been used to siphon government funds simply because of its complexity, he said.
Many MDAs come to NITDA to seek IT clearance for their projects and services, which the Agency has professionals and experts that will analyse the project critically to know its authenticity before embarking on such project so as to save funds for the government, he added.
The Acting Chairman of EFCC in his remarks stated that the two government organizations have a lot in common, and more need to be learned from each other.
EFCC need the support of every Nigerian in the fight against corruption for the betterment of our future generation because the Commission cannot do it alone. “Corruption is the biggest problem in the country” things need to be done the right way, which will curb the menace it has brought upon our country, he said.
Magu appreciates the effort of NITDA in the fight against corruption, and has the support of his office in delivering its goals and objectives for the growth and development of the country, he added.
Similarly, with the complaints of Nigerians on poor products and services delivery, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Consumer Protection Council (CPC) have formed a working committee to hold providers of products and services accountable. This collaborative move was taken when the Director General CPC, Barrister Babatunde Irukera paid a courtesy visit to the Agency headquarters in Abuja.
Barr. Irukera said, “the role of NITDA in the society is to improve technology services to the people” adding that IT controls significant number of human endeavors.
He said the need for a national framework to from NITDA to serve as a tool for proper discharge of their duties. Stressing that, creating standards will enable CPC full implementation.
He further expressed their challenge with e-commerce as there is difficulty in dealing with cases and appeals to the Agency to host their data and transactions locally.
The Director General NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Pantami (FBCS) in his remarks urged regulatory bodies to work together especially where there is need for that synergy, while appreciating CPC for their creativity and efforts in discharging their duties effectively.
The DG further made emphasizes on the regulatory roles of the Agency as to set standards Guidelines and frameworks for IT adoption and the directives for all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to get clearance before embarking on any IT projects/ Services. Adding that all OEM are encouraged to upgrade their standards and establish Service Centres in major cities for after sales services.
