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Tag: MDAs

  • 20 MDAs seek NITDA’s clearance of IT projects

    No fewer than 20 Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) have submitted requests to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in 2018 for clearance of their information technology projects.

    Mrs Hadiza Umar, the NITDA Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.

    She said that some of the MDAs had been fully cleared, while some others had provisional clearance and the rest at various stages of the clearance process.

    Umar noted that NITDA recently cleared the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Information Communication Technology (ICT) security and system infrastructure upgrade projects.

    According to her, the cleared projects include Enterprise Network Security – Gateway Security project – aimed at upgrading the bank’s network appliances and ensures that network appliances are highly available and provides comprehensive real real-time protection against advance threat.

    She said that clearing of the projects would enhance ICT performance and protect the country’s cyberspace against threats.

    She said that potential targets of cyber-attacks were bank, health, power and transportation systems, as well as other critical national infrastructure.

    “The CBN, in its efforts toward mitigating these threats, especially in the country’s financial institutions, initiated the implementation of the projects,” she noted.

    NITDA is responsible for implementing the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and coordinating general information technology development and regulation.

    Section 6 of the enabling Act mandates NITDA to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardisation, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of information technology practices in Nigeria.

     

  • World Bank, EU train personnel from 52 MDAs in Delta

    World Bank, EU train personnel from 52 MDAs in Delta

    The World Bank and EU in collaboration with Delta government on Tuesday started training of over 100 workers of state on financial reforms.

    Mr Benson Okojo the Project Coordinator of the World Bank, EU sponsored State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) project said the training was to build the workers’ capacity on adequate budget preparation.

    “We were able to identify 52 MDAs under our International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) platform,” he said.

    Ojoko said the exercise would enable them to understand the reforms that were being implemented under the SEEFOR project intervention.

    According to him, one of such reforms is under our Component B which is budget reform.

    “A lot of changes are being introduced. We are changing from the old ways of preparing budget according to the heads, sub-heads of each sectorial budget to the new coding structure that has been informed by the adoption of IPSAS.

    “It was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2010 and in 2011, there was a Federal Allocation Accounting Committee (FAAC) that now designed a new national chart among the three tiers of government,” he said.

    Ojoko said that Delta was among the first five states that had adopted the new national chart of accounting.

    “Having adopted the chart, Delta has been working by organising workshops and trainings for relevant stakeholders.

    “This includes budget officers, accountants as well as staff of the Ministry of Economic Planning for the implementation of the programme in the state.

    “This has made it possible for the state to prepare the 2018 budget which is already online and the World Bank had applauded the state for this effort.’’

    Ojoko said that in spite of the progress recorded by the state in the area of budget preparation, there were still lapses that needed to be corrected.

    The workers were drawn from 52 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

     

  • 2018 budget: Buhari orders MDAs to submit details to National Assembly before Friday

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday mandated representatives of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that were yet to submit and defend details of their 2018 expenditures before the National Assembly to do before Friday.

    Recall that President Buhari had in November 2017 presented the 2018 budget to the lawmakers. However, there has been rows between the Executive and Legislature over the passage of the budget.

    The lawmakers have, however, said the budget was being delayed because some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) were yet to appear before relevant national assembly committees to defend their proposals.

    That stance of the lawmakers has now been buttressed by a message the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, sent to relevant public officials.

    In the memo, dated March 19, the SGF said, “It has come to the attention of Government that a number of Agencies, Corporations and Government owned Companies have not fully complied with the provisions of Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007.”

    “Agencies are reminded that the FRA 2007 provides that consequent upon laying of summary of budget estimates of Agencies listed in the schedule to the FRA alongside the National Budget by Mr. President, it is required that details of such budgets are made available to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. This position was reiterated in the attached publication in the Nation Newspaper of Wednesday, February 7, 2018, by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (SSAP) on National Assembly Matters (Senate).”

    Mr. Mustapha added that President Buhari “has directed:

    (i) That Agencies, Corporations and Government owned Companies in the schedule to the FRA 2007 should comply with the provisions of the law;

    (ii) All submissions (109 copies to the Senate and 360 copies to the House) should be made available to the appropriate Committees of the National Assembly. Copies should also be made available to the SSAP on National Assembly Matters (Senate and House respectively), not later than Friday, 23rd March, 2018; and

    (iii) All Agencies, Corporations and Government Owned Companies should honour invitations to defend their estimates timeously.”

    He added that “Supervising Ministers [of the MDAs] are enjoined to ensure timely compliance with the content of this Circular.”

     

  • Tech development: World Bank approves additional $3 million for Nigeria

    The Federal Government on Monday said the World Bank has approved additional financing of $3 million to stimulate global competitiveness of raw materials for a diversified economy in Nigeria.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Technology and Innovation Expo in Abuja.

    The World Bank had in the first tranche supported a batch of innovations with about $3 million.

    According to him, “the Federal Government plans to strengthen the technology and innovation ecosystem by supporting the development of new innovation hubs in partnership with the private sectors, and this is well on course.

    “We have recently concluded a competitive selection process of private sector entities that will implement and manage the hubs. Each of these hubs will focus solely on the market challenges peculiar to the region of the country in which each is located.”

    Osinbajo urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to align and ensure that the lofty intent of the recently signed presidential Executive Order for supplying and execution of projects and programmes, especially in the area of science, engineering and technology, are met.

    “Science and technology are key instrument of the realisation of the objectives of our National Economic and Growth Plan (NERG) 2017-2020.

    “Our goal of moving the Nigerian economy away from a resource-based to a knowledge-based model is one that we must take seriously and the ERGP is a step in that direction.

    “Innovation will create jobs, it will attract investment, it will boost export, it will grow our economy. These are part of the positive impacts that it will have on our image and perception around the world,” Osinbajo said.

    On his part, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, revealed that patents for research findings, which were processed through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), increased from 16 in 2016 to 50 by the end of 2017.

    “This is a clear evidence of a remarkable improvement in the level of innovation in Nigeria. It shows that it has become an important instrument to drive the role of research in the commercialization of goods and services for the happiness of our people,” Onu said.

    He implored the private sector and stakeholders to unite to further science and technology in the country.

    “I am confident that with all hands on deck, we can build a stronger family that will be united in the common pursuit of deepening the depth and broadening the reach of Science, Technology and Innovation in our economic diversification process, especially in a fast changing world,” he said.

     

  • NITDA begins registration, licensing of IT contractors

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it is set to register and issue licence to indigenous Information Technology (IT) contractors and service providers.

    The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr Ibrahim Pantami, announced the plan in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

    “The management of NITDA has put in place measures to register and license all IT contractors and service providers.

    “This is for the purposes of procurement, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and other forms of engagement with government establishments and the private sector.

    “This information is for all IT contractors, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), other government establishments, the organised private sector and the general public,’’ Pantami said.

    According to him, the agency is dismay at the rising number of failing IT projects within Federal MDAs and other government establishments.

    He said NITDA’s investigations revealed that more than 90 per cent of IT projects in MDAs failed and more than 95 per cent of their security was compromised.

    He noted that the registration and licensing of IT contractors and service providers had become expedient to curtail these issues.

    He added that it would be in line with the agency’s mandate and with the recent Presidential Executive Order 005.

    The D-G said that the order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari was for planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology.

    “The process aims at ensuring the emergence of robust indigenous IT service providers and contractors, guaranteeing the delivery of sustainable IT projects and engendering professionalism in the IT service industry.

    “The process will also ensure that IT projects in MDAs will only be executed by indigenous companies where in-country capacity exists.

    “As part of the process, NITDA will monitor and ensure the capacity development of Nigerians employed by IT Contractors and other Service providers.’’

    He explained that the agency will, in conjunction with relevant agencies, investigate any project that has failed to determine the root cause of the failure.

    “Sanctions will be applied where necessary or to refer such cases to other relevant authorities,’’ the D-G said.

    He advised all firms, desirous of providing IT services and contracts to Federal MDAs and other government establishments, to initiate the registration process with immediate effect.

    He said that guidelines for the registration process could be published on NITDA’s website: www.nitda.gov.ng.

    “Alternatively, an application could be written to the agency in order to initiate the process.’’

    He noted that only NITDA registered firms and companies would be recognised as having capabilities for the provision of IT services to Federal MDAs and other government establishments.

    Pantami said that all MDAs and other government establishments are advised to consult NITDA before any IT firm is engaged for the purpose of providing IT related services.

     

  • Nasarawa Govt freezes accounts of MDAs

    The Nasarawa State Government has frozen the accounts of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over non-compliance with its directive.

    The state’s Accountant-General, Mr Zakka Yakubu, disclosed this to newsmen in Lafia on Thursday.
    Yakubu explained that the suspension of all financial transactions was due to their inability to comply with an earlier circular directing MDAs to submit their account balances and other financial documents.

    He added that his office wrote all MDAs to submit their balances from various accounts and to also make refund of unspent monies, but they failed to respond.

    “I am under the directive of Governor Umaru Al-Makura to inform all MDAs that all transactions in their accounts are hereby suspended.
    “In view of that, all MDAs are expected to forward all their bank account balances and other documents to my office immediately,” said the accountant-general.

    He stated that the needed information, including bank accounts of the MDAs, would enable his office close the state account for 2017 in line with global best practice.

    “All revenue collections made during the financial year must be brought into account on or before Sunday, Dec. 31.
    “All impress issued during the financial year must be retired and any unretired amount would be classified personal and recovered from the salary of the impress holder,” he said.

    Yakubu added that the government would appoint board survey to examine the transactions of MDAs and reconcile the documents to be submitted and the balance in their accounts.

    The accountant-general also disclosed that the state had received N4.5 billion as the last tranche of Paris Club refund to the state.
    According to him, N2.9 billion out of the money is for the state government while N1.6 billion is for the 13 local government councils in the state, based on the documents obtained from the Federal Government.

  • IT procurement: NITDA, EFCC forge alliance to curb corruption

    The National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) have forged alliance to strengthen the anti-corruption war especially on the procurement of Information Technology(IT) products and service among Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Nigerian government.

    The two agencies inked the alliance during a working visit to EFCC Headquarter in Abuja by the Director General of NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami with his management team.

    The alliance was announced yesterday in an official statement by NITDA’s Head of Corporate and External Relations, Hadiza Umar.

    According to the statement, Pantami said the alliance has become imperative in the face of the wanton corruption being perpetrated by MDAs especially in the procurement of IT products and services as most of the projects pass through less scrutiny during budget defense at the National Assembly since the expertise required to ascertain the needs and specifications of these IT requirements are lacking within the legislative chambers.

    NITDA is government’s IT clearinghouse but until now, its mandate to scrutinize IT procurements by MDAs has largely been ignored.

    “Many MDAs consider IT projects as conduit pipes to siphon public funds and I believe partnering with EFCC will bring sanity to the sector and by then the commission will be empowering NITDA in strengthening its regulatory function through which it will also be developing and promoting the local content in the IT sector,” the NITDA boss said.

    While suggesting the modus operandi of the partnership, DrPantami informed that the two organisations could form a working group which would also serve as a desk to deal with sharp practices in IT procurement, adding that, “EFCC may help in asking MDAs to produce procurement clearance issued by NITDA during their investigations.

    He said NITDA as IT regulatory body in the country, the Agency is responsible for subjecting IT product to value-for-money analysis, reduce projects duplication, justify the spending of public funds on IT projects and to advise MDAs on the alternative options of IT products and service with a view of reducing cost especially on sharing of software among themselves.

    Pantami who believed that the alliance would strengthen the existing relationship between the Agency and the Commission said “supporting NITDA would go a long way in blocking loopholes in IT procurements.”

    He commended the EFCC’s Acting chairman for his doggedness, fearlessness and outstanding performance which he has recorded in acting capacity saying the feat could take some people 20 years to achieve as substantive chairman of the commission.

    While assuring him of his prayers and goodwill, Dr Pantami stated that Nigeria needs people like Mr. Magu who are fearless and do not think of the consequences of their action to move forward as a nation

    In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu who expressed his delight over the visit said that EFCC as a commission “would be complying with NITDA’s request so as to bring some level of sanity to the procurement of IT products and services among MDAs in Nigeria.

    He described the partnership as timely especially now that the Commission is on the process of “completely digitalizing the operation of EFCC” adding that he now has place in NITDA to run to when he gets confuse on IT projects under investigations.

    Describing corruption as a threat to the unity of Nigeria, the EFCC boss maintained that the Commission cannot fight corruption alone without the consensus of all Nigerians, he pleaded to Nigerians not to be discouraged on the recent corruption case judgments delivered recently.

    Magu stated that the cause of agitations from different quarters in the country today is because of corruptions that has ravaged the nation. “Absolutely there is a political will to fight corruption and this is not in doubt. This is the time to save this country from the shackles of corruption,” he added

    The two organisations agreed to nominate three officials each to constitute the working group and the desk with the term of reference of verifying the IT products and services to be procured with public funds.

     

  • Lack of collaboration hampers biotechnology effectiveness – Experts

    Lack of collaboration hampers biotechnology effectiveness – Experts

    Biotechnology experts say lack of collaboration in the face of limited resources will hamper the efficiency and effectiveness of the use and application of biotechnology in Nigeria.

    The experts told the News Agency of Nigeria in separate interviews on Friday in Abuja that only synergy would help the nation achieve food security.

    Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), said that modern biotechnology was becoming increasingly important in addressing emerging food security, social and economic challenges.

    “With its perceived and real unintended consequences, regulatory agencies and stakeholders must unite with a sense of purpose, vision, mission and determination to ensure that our nation reap the benefits of biotechnology.

    “We have an excellent working relationship with, and Memorandums of Understanding with agencies like NAFDAC, SON, the Nigerian Customs Services, NABDA, ARCN, Ministries of Environment, Health and others.

    “We have been organising workshops and involved in seminars that encourages effective collaboration with other regulatory Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the use and application of biotechnology.

    “This is part of our effort to keep Nigerians abreast of laid down internationally accepted procedures for verification of GM foods and Feed Safety; and determine the future activities to build necessary capacity in the Nigeria biosafety regulatory system,’’ he said.

    He said that the agency had put in place world class measures, equipment and international arrangements that ensured the practice of modern biotechnology in Nigeria was one of the safest in the world.

    Prof. Benjamin Ubi, the President, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), said collaboration in the adoption of biotechnology would facilitate sustainable agricultural production in the country.

    He said that the adoption of biotechnology applications was the panacea to the current food challenges facing the country.

    “Biotechnology, including genetic engineering and production of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), provides powerful tools for the sustainable development of agriculture, fishery and forestry, as well as meeting the food needs of the population.

    “GMOs currently account for about 16 per cent of the world’s crops, particularly crops like soybean, maize, cotton and canola, and there are indications that the growing trend will continue.

    “So, we must eat what we grow and grow what we eat. This means we ought to produce more and agricultural biotechnology is a tool for achieving this,’’ he said.

    Ubi also pledged the support of the BSN for the efforts of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) to harness the potential of modern biotechnology.

  • NITDA sets up team to implement executive order on procurement

    The Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has assembled a team to implement the Execute Order issued by acting President Yemi Osinbajo on the procurement of information technology products and services by federal government establishments.

    “In compliance with the Federal Government’s directive that MDAs and all other institutions of the Federal Government planning to embark on IT projects must obtain clearance from NITDA, the Agency has assembled a team of experts charged with supporting MDAs with advice and guidance throughout the IT procurement process,” Director-General of NITDA, Isa Ali Pantami, disclosed in a press statement.

    Prof. Osinbajo had on May 18 issued the Executive Order to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, of the Federal Government to support local content in procurement of IT products and services.

    Mr. Pantami called on MDAs to comply with the Executive Order on Support for Local Content in IT Procurement.

    He noted that the order is aimed at mitigating waste and mismanagement of government funds as well as ensuring that procurement of goods and services are in line with the national development goals.

    Mr. Pantami further disclosed that NITDA was strengthening its strategy to foster patronage of indigenous IT products and services in Nigeria.

    He said the strategy will make Nigerian IT products viable and promote a Local-Content-First policy in IT procurement by government establishments.

    He disclosed that NITDA has invested in building IT hubs, and incubation and acceleration centres around the country, and is partnering with private IT hubs to identify and accelerate innovative IT solutions crafting policies and guidelines that will make the Nigerian environment conducive for IT business.

    The Director-General appealed to MDAs and other stakeholders in the IT sector to support the Agency in this strategy so as to help boost the local IT industry, create new markets as well as deepen existing ones, and accelerate information technology penetration and adoption in all government services in Nigeria for better service delivery.

    NITDA was established to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and co-ordinate general IT development and regulation in the country.

    Specifically, Section 6(l) of the NITDA Act mandates the agency to render advisory services in all information technology matters to the public and private sectors.