The Federal Government issued a Circular with the number SGF/6/S.19/T/65 on the 18th of April 2006, instructing all Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) that are seeking to embark on any IT project to acquire clearance from NITDA.
The Federal Government, in order to reinforce NITDA’s Clearing House mandate, issued another Circular on August 31, 2018, with the number 59736/S.2/C.II/125, reiterating the need for all FPIS and other government establishments to communicate with and obtain prior approval from NITDA before implementing their IT projects.
The executive directives marked a watershed moment for the Agency, as they improved the outlook for the nation’s IT investments, illuminated the way for previously dormant projects, and ensured the creation and long-term viability of indigenous after-sales-services capability.
The IT Projects Clearance Committee, which is overseen by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and led by Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has achieved important and exceptional achievements over the years.
Prof. Pantami recounted the Committee’s accomplishments in 2021 in the Memo presented by the Minister during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council Meeting, which included a total of 282 new IT applications for clearance, out of which 258 projects were successfully cleared, and a total cumulative savings of $24,403,266,842.86, an estimated 343.2 percent increase in amount saved for the Federal Government compared to 2020 and an unprecedented 89.7% increase in amount saved for the Federal Government.
Furthermore, in the year 2021, there was a considerable growth in the use of the IT Clearance Platform, with 248 new users from 52 Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) registering on the portal.
Meanwhile, on March 9, 2022, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Implementation of Strategies for the Enhancement of the Quality of Government Digital Technology Projects and Services, which was welcomed news.
According to the Minister, the approval will allow the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to develop measures for enforcing the IT Project Clearance in compliance with the NITDA Act (2007).
“IT projects are the foundation for effective e-Government development; their implementation promotes openness, efficiency, productivity, participation, inclusivity, cost savings, and competitive advantage.” Any country’s social and economic progress is ultimately determined by these elements. As a result, efficient implementation of these Projects is no longer an option but a must in our push toward the Digital Economy.”
To build on the successes of 2021, the Agency intends to boost compliance by Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) by at least 10% through increased awareness and strengthening of the ITPC process, as directed by the IT Projects Clearance (ITPC) Committee.
Apart from working to improve the ITPC portal’s functioning in order to boost transparency, accountability, and the convenience with which projects may be submitted, the Agency is committed to collaborating with more relevant FPIS in order to strengthen compliance.
NITDA, under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, has taken its quest to achieve its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP-2021-2024) in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria a notch higher with the Council’s support and approvals of key prayers captured in the Memo.
