SGF tasks computer professionals on nation’s challenges

SECRETARY to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, has called on computer professionals in Nigeria to come up with various Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions and initiatives that can help the country solve the various challenges bedeviling its growth.

While acknowledging the various efforts of the computer professionals under the aegis of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in the past, David-Lawal, also a member, before the recent elevation as SGF, said the country is now seriously desirous of technology solutions that can specifically help tackle the growing insecurity concerns in Nigeria.

Speaking at the weekend, in Lagos, at the investiture of Prof. David Aderounmu, as the 13th President of NCS, David-Lawal, posited that any government across the globe that is not IT-driven now will be operating as a primitive country.

The SGF, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in his office, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, noted that this is the time NCS, with over 10,000 members spread across the country, can prove its mettle by proffering sustainable solutions to the various challenges limiting the growth of the economy.

The SGF said the Buhari-led government out to develop the economy; fight corruption; provide adequate security for Nigerians and create massive employment for the army of unemployed Nigerians, especially the youths. He stressed that so many areas of governance today needed IT solutions to survive.

He disclosed that the Buhari government is not looking for individual solution, but that professionals and professional bodies should come together to deliver sustainable solution for the country. David-Lawal, who urged NCS to articulate roles it will play in tackling the insecurity challenges in the country, noted that ICT is a tool to fight corruption, stressing that so much solution must come to assist the country.

In his speech, Aderounmu, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari and indeed the Federal Government to find ways of deepening ICT growth in the country, pleaded with the president to consider the appointment of seasoned IT professionals (registered members of NCS and CPN) to head the Ministry of Communications Technology and other IT agencies in the country similar to what obtains in the ministries of Health and that of Justice, where a medical personnel and a lawyer are appointed respectively to head such.

Aderounmu also asked the President Buhari to give priority to the use of registered local IT professionals and registered local IT companies to execute IT jobs, appoint seasoned IT professionals on the boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to maximize and deepen the benefits of electronic governance and digital transformation in Nigeria.

The NCS president also said that the society will like the president to direct the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPP) to amend the pre-qualification requirements for IT projects to include Evidence of registration with CPN and NCS in addition to the newly introduced pre-qualification requirements such as evidence of registration with PENCOM, and evidence of remittance of fund to ITF.

According to him, it will also be nice if the President further mandates MDAs to appoint IT professionals as directors of IT, direct all MDAs to establish IT career structure if not yet in place.