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Kudos, Knocks for Draft Harmonised ICT Policy |
| Source: |
This Day |
| Source Date: |
Thursday, January 12, 2012 |
| Focus: |
ICT for MDGs
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| Country: |
Nigeria |
| Created: |
Jan 13, 2012 |
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Varied reactions have greeted the recent release of the country's draft National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy, which seeks to harmonise all existing disparate ICT policies into a single ICT policy.
The Ministry of Communications Technology had on Monday, released the draft National ICT policy on its website and called on stakeholders and the general public to study the document and make their inputs within two weeks.
Reacting to the draft ICT policy, President of PiNet Informatics, a foremost Internet Service Provider (ISP), Mr. Lanre Ajayi, who spoke with THISDAY on phone, hailed the Ministry for its prompt action in creating the process for the formulation of harmonised ICT policy in the country, explaining that the harmonised policy would address convergence, which he said was the best way forward for Nigeria.
According to him, the role of the ministry was to formulate policies and measure the policy implementation process, while commending the ministry for its quick action in setting up the committee that put together, the draft document.
He however insisted that the timeframe of six weeks given to the committee to complete its task and the two weeks given to the general public to make contributions were not enough to produce the type of policy that will address every segment of the ICT sector in specific and measurable terms.
He suggested that the ICT policy be driven largely by specifics and measurable goals, with time frame to achieve the set goals.
He frowned at a situation where the policy is silent in the area of identifiable measurable figures and strategies for implementation and accomplishment. "Our ICT policy must be focused and goal oriented," Ajayi said.
He said he was still studying the draft document and would make his contributions as requested by the ministry.
Immediate past President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who also spoke with THISDAY, commended the ministry for its action, but advised the Ministry of Communications Technology to look closely at the Nigerian ICT policy that was launched in 2010 by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) during the eNigeria conference in Abuja, as well as the Telecommunications Policy of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator.
According to him, the two policy frameworks must be critically looked into, while harmonising.
Speaking on the importance of policy document, Ekuwem said it remained the driving spirit and the vehicle of transformation of any given sector. He suggested that success factors, success indicators, measurable milestones and appropriate timeframe must be considered in formulating the harmonised ICT policy for Nigeria.
Ekuwem who has been a strong advocate of local content development, called on the Ministry of Communications Technology to also consider local content in the harmonised ICT policy.
He said a situation whereby Nigerians depended heavily on importation of software and hardware, did not speak well of a country aspiring to be listed among the first 20 economies of the world in the year 2020.
The objectives of the national ICT policy as contained in the draft policy include, reflecting convergence by de-emphasising the differences between Information Technology (IT), broadcasting, telecommunications and postal sectors; bringing all ICT related activities under a single ministry so as to give policy guidance to the converged industry, among others.
The harmonised ICT policy, when implemented, is expected to address appropriate policies, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks as well as a converged ICT regulatory agency.
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Kudos, Knocks for Draft Harmonised ICT Policy Varied reactions have greeted the recent release of the country's draft National Information and Communications Technology ICT policy which seeks to harmonise all existing disparate ICT policies into a single ICT policy
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