Agency Rakes In N14 bn From IT Levy

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said that it has generated about N14.5 billion from Information Technology (IT) levy.

The Director General, NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye said the fund had effectively aided the agency in its pursuit  of IT activities in the country adding that the funds have been judiciously expanded over the years.

Angaye noted that the federal government had imposed a one per cent profit before tax (PBT) on companies engaged in Information Technology, Telecommunications and other business establishment that rely heavily on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure,s tating that the funds generated so far had been meaningful to the development of IT  in the country.

He revealed that NITDA had set aside some money for the establishment of Solar Power Information Technology Centre of international standards in over 100 communities in the country with each costing over N30 million as established.

In his words “part of the fund had also been executed on  building ICT Centres in Nigeria, tertiary institutions and building of electronic Learning (e-learning) Centre in  number.”

While noting that the agency embarked on public service IT network scheme, NITDA boss commended the federal government upon the PBT initiative and for the establishment of the sustainable Information and Technology Development Fund (ITF) which he said would facilitate the realisation of its mandate of making IT affordable to all Nigerians.

Angaye who expressed satisfaction over the compliance of the Federal Government and private sector in embracing IT options maintained that NITDA had lived up to its statutory mandate as stipulated in its act of 2007, explaining that the agency had been effectively coordinating, regulating and monitoring IT operations in the country.