NEW ICT POLICY AS CATALYST FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT



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.
Share on Google Plus

Declaimer - MARTINS LIBRARY

The publications and/or documents on this website are provided for general information purposes only. Your use of any of these sample documents is subjected to your own decision NB: Join our Social Media Network on Google Plus | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

READ RECENT UPDATES HERE