The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled five Information Technology (IT) guidelines and regulatory frameworks to ensure ease of doing business in the sector.
The Director General of the agency, Dr Isa Pantami, who unveiled the guidelines at a public presentation in Abuja, last Friday urged the public, institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adhere to the provisions of the guidelines.
Pantami said that the public presentation of the guidelines was necessary following the agency’s mandate to develop the IT sector and ensure promotion of locally made products.
He listed the guidelines to include “rulemaking process of NITDA, Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, guidelines for the use of social media platforms in public institutions, guidelines for clearance of information technology projects by public institutions and guidelines for public internet access.
The NITDA boss said “as a country, it is good to produce what we need and consume what we produce to build our economy.
“This is the first time NITDA is rolling out rulemaking process to allow the public to know the steps for guidelines and regulatory framework.
“It will also allow engagement to help the public to understand all processes involved in the issuance of regulatory documents by the agency.
“NITDA from now will be generally bound by the rulemaking process as an integral part of the operations of the agency.”
Pantami said that the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation was in accordance with Section 6 of NITDA Act 2007.
“This guideline is for public institutions which include MDAs, federal institutions, federal government-owned companies and it is to guide federal institutions in procuring IT goods and services.
“It will ensure that government money is not mismanaged in the execution of IT projects, harmonisation in the execution of projects and also ensure that institutions carrying out IT projects have the capacity,” he said.
The third guideline on Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, Pantami said, was to empower the agency to regulate, monitor the use of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic communications on governance, commerce, private and public sector.
“These guidelines will form the basis for which personal data of Nigerian citizens will be protected and managed.
“The Frameworks and Guidelines for Public Internet Access (PIA) provides guidelines for providers of public internet access services to maintain appropriate systems and policies to protect Nigerians who use these services.
“Free Wi-Fi is commendable but there will be abuse if not regulated because of security reasons. We don’t want the security of the nation to be compromised,” he said.
On the framework and guidelines for the use of social media platforms in public institutions, he said it would ensure public institutions had processes in the creation of social media accounts.