NITDA’s five new IT regulatory guidelines now operational

The five new Information Technology regulatory instruments which was developed by the National Information Technology Development Agency [NITDA] is now operational, the Director General of the agency, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said. The new regulatory instruments are Rulemaking Process of NITDA, Nigeria Data Protection Regulation and Guidelines for Clearance of Information Technology. Others […]

The five new Information Technology regulatory instruments which was developed by the National Information Technology Development Agency [NITDA] is now operational, the Director General of the agency, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said.

The new regulatory instruments are Rulemaking Process of NITDA, Nigeria Data Protection Regulation and Guidelines for Clearance of Information Technology. Others are Framework and Guidelines for Public Internet Access and Framework and Guideline for the Use of Social Media Platforms in Public Institutions –

The instruments seek to further develop IT practices and will give local manufacturers of IT equipment and software developed an edge over their foreign counterparts in terms of patronage, according to Dr Pantami who spoke at the presentation of the instruments to the public in Abuja at the weekend.

He said NITDA’s efforts at strengthening local content regulations had resulted into an exceptional increase in the patronage of locally assembled devices.

‘’Records have shown that in 2015, Indigenous Original Equipment Manufacturers [OEMs] sold 98,224 devices in 2015, 154,424 in 2016 and 355,647 in 2017. This is unpresented in the history of the country and this is expected to continue to grow significantly in the coming years.

He said the Rulemaking Process will create platforms for public engagement in the issuance of regulatory documents by the agency.

According to him, the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation empowers NITDA to issue regulations and monitor the use of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic communications on all matters pertaining to government, commerce, and the private and public sectors.

‘’These Guideline will form the basis for which personal data of Nigerian citizens will be protected and managed. We are committed to strict enforcement of the Guideline ad enjoin all organizations, both public and private, to comply forthwith’’, Dr Pantami said.

The Guidelines for Clearance of Information Technology Projects, he said, set forth a process to guide Federal Institutions in procuring Information Technology goods and services.

‘’ Fourthly, the Framework and Guidelines for Public Internet Access [PIA] provides a framework and guidelines for providers of public internet access services to maintain appropriate systems and policies to protect Nigerians who use these services’’, he said.

He added NITDA would henceforth monitor the use of IT aspect of the social media for public officials through the Framework and Guidelines for the Use of Social Media Platforms in Public Institutions.

He said this framework ensures that every government related policy is released to the public via official accounts or handles or email addresses of public officials.