Not too
long ago, news frittered in that the administration of President Goodluck
Jonathan had approved a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
policy for the country. Many stakeholders in the industry saw it as not only
‘encouraging,’ but representing the administration’s commitment to leverage ICT
for overall national growth and economic development.
Highlights of new policy
A key element of the new policy is the pursuit of true
convergence based on the proposed merger of the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC), the industry regulator for telecommunications, and its
counterpart in the broadcasting industry, the National Broadcasting Commission
(NBC).
The plan to merge the NCC and NBC reflected increasing
industry advocacy for Nigeria to pursue a strategic policy thrust on
convergence of regulatory functions, roles and responsibilities.
Under the plan, the infrastructure and frequency held
by NBC will now be merged with that available to NCC, which is envisioned to
become a converged regulator for the sector, whereas NBC will subsequently be
saddled with the responsibility of regulating broadcast content.
It could be recalled that the Ministry of
Communication Technology had hinted that the National ICT Policy was developed
to complement the development goals of Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020, centred on
making the nation a knowledge-based and globally competitive one.
The Minister, on August 25, 2011, set up an ad-hoc
committee to harmonise all existing policies for the different components of
ICT including telecommunications, information technology, broadcasting and
postal services.
The committee reviewed the National Telecommunication
Policy 2000, Draft Communications Policy 2011, Nigerian Postal Service Act
2004, National Broadcasting Commission Act 1992 (as amended), National
Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007, National Outsourcing and
Institutional Framework for Nigeria (Jan. 2007), National Policy for
Information Technology, Report of Presidential Committee on Master Plan and
Roadmap for the Implementation of Information and Communication Technology for
National Development (September 2010) and Nigerian Communications Act 2003,
among other documents.
Commitment to new policy
The year 2012 started with a strong commitment by the
Ministry to a harmonized ICT Policy for the industry, with a stakeholders’
consultative forum on the draft bill in Lagos in the month of March. At
the occasion, Communication Technology Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson,
expressed commitment to an ICT policy that will contribute to national
development.
Mrs. Johnson noted that the harmonized draft policy
would help to reposition the nation’s information technology sector and
accelerate the growth of the industry
She assured that the policy will create the enabling
environment for the rapid expansion of ICT networks and services that are
accessible to all at reasonable cost, and for the transformation of Nigeria
into a knowledge-based economy.
Describing the policy document as a statement of
intent, Mrs. Johnson stated that the Ministry was resolute on developing the
ICT industry, stating that the contributions of stakeholders to the policy
document will help strengthen the document for the benefit of all.
The Minister emphasized that though the ministry was
in a hurry to get things done and develop the sector, the goal is however not
to make mistakes in a haste. The Draft policy, she emphasized, is a tool that
in due course will be effectively executed to enable speedy progress of the ICT
industry.
Discontent among stakeholders
However, the Ministry’s push for a harmonized ICT
policy received the cold shoulders of stakeholders who held that the draft
policy lacks depth and good direction. Also in contention, was what some
consider an attempt to railroad a converged regulator which many observers said
needed caution and deeper reflection to handle? Although Mrs. Johnson made it
abundantly clear at the stakeholders’ forum that the policy is in line with
transforming the economy into a knowledge-based one in which ICT will become
the key driver of the way social services are delivered- children education,
healthcare delivery, and ensuring public safety.
Those opposed to the bill believe a policy should say,
for example, what a government intends to do within a rolling plan of say five
years, 10 years, or more; even as policies ought to set benchmarks or targets
to be achieved; arguing that a policy cannot, and must not, become a usurper of
the Acts that the National Assembly has put down as laws.
Experts say the policy harmonization committee,
consisting of only members from agencies under the Ministry of Communications
Technology, was not representative enough as it failed to include private
sector players who were the real drivers of ICT growth in the country. As such,
they called for the immediate re-composition of the committee.
Stakeholders generally criticized the policy for not
making adequate provisions for broadband and computer penetration; tackling multiple
taxation and regulation, and providing support for local computer
manufacturers.
Other shortcomings, according to experts, include
inadequate provision for women, children and people living with disabilities;
inadequate provisions for local content and internet governance; as well as
proper convergence in the ICT sector, and failure to make provisions that will
categorise ICT equipment as critical national infrastructure fully protected by
the government.
Accelerating national development
Following this feedback, the Minister set up a
harmonisation committee to produce the final draft of the policy which was
eventually submitted, and approved by the presidency through the Federal
Executive Council (FEC).
Speaking recently during a business and networking
lunch at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, organised by the King’s
College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), Mrs. Johnson noted that increase in the
size and productivity level of the ICT sector results in economic growth. This,
she said, is made possible through investments and an increase in the adoption
and use of ICT tools leading to job creation and self-employment opportunities.
The Minister, who spoke extensively on the topic: “The
new ICT policy for accelerating national development: challenges and
opportunities,” said technology is a source of, and an enabler of development.
She highlighted that in terms of welfare, applications designed to facilitate
effective delivery of education, health, security and other basic needs have helped
to increase social welfare.
However, Mrs. Johnson lamented challenges facing the
industry such as vandalisation of ICT infrastructure, insecurity and inadequate
electrical power supply for operations, adding that “in addition to these
issues, local participation in key ICT areas is sub-optimal due to inadequate
skills and an unsupportive enabling environment.”
In view of this, she said that one of the Ministry’s
mandates is to formulate enabling policies, laws and regulations that will make
seamless access to communication infrastructure in all spheres of life
possible. She then articulated the Ministry’s four pronged approach strategy to
delivering the promises of the transformation agenda and leveraging the
opportunities in the industry for socio-economic development.
These include: building a ubiquitous broadband
infrastructure, promoting device ownership for every Nigerian, encouraging
local content development and engendering transparency, efficiency and
productivity in government and citizen engagement.