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Computer Society blasts NEPA over N7bn software
Computer Society blasts NEPA over
N7bn software
REMMY NWEKE,
in Abuja
NIGERIA
Computer Society (NCS) yesterday lamented the recent acquisition of a foreign
billing software at $500,000 (about N7 billion) for the National Electric Power
Authority (NEPA).
President of NCS, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, who
spoke at the opening of the 19th National Conference and Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the society in Abuja, described the gesture as embarrassing to
Information Technology (IT) professionals in the country.
The NCS is the umbrella body of about four
IT interest groups, namely IT Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Institute of
Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) cum Software Developers Group (SDG)
and Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN).
Dismissing the acquisition as totally
unnecessary, the NCS president wondered whether the initial billing software
which failed NEPA was an indigenous product.
He also queried the mode of acquiring the
software, saying it was not preceded by competitive bidding which should have
included indigenous software developers.
Dr. Nwannenna also said that the need to
rename the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) had become
imperative due to the role the agency is currently playing.
According to him, NITDA is the government
body that was saddled with the responsibility of research and development in
Information Technology but given the amount of time and resources required to
implement NITDA’s existing pet projects, such as the e-government, e-Nigeria and
e-ECOWAS, among others, it has become "doubtful" that the organization would
have any extra time and resources to devote to R & D.
"R & D is what we must embark upon now if
we are to become globally competitive," he declared.
He recommended the renaming of the current
NITDA to reflect its acquisition and usage of IT products and services, while
another agency should be set up and saddled strictly with the responsibility of
foreseeing research and development in IT, which he described as a "more serious
business."
Dr. Nwannenna, who also is the chief
executive of Condata Limited said that the implementation of the electronic
programmes (eProgrammes) must involve the acquisition and usage of a lot of IT
products and services, only if the nation during the implementation ensures that
these products and services are indigenous.
Chairman of the opening session and
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu,
enjoined the NCS to enrich the National Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) policy so as to reflect international trends and recommend ways and means
by which the Federal Government could meet its ICT goals and objectives.
He stated that the relevance of ICT
propelled his ministry of fully embrace computerization as a way of "enhancing
efficiency and optimal use of human and material resources in public information
management" and emphasized that ICT is the way of the future and without it "our
collective goal of national development would be a mirage."
In his address at the occasion, Minister
of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, represented by the Director
General of NITDA, Prof. Gabriel Ajayi, said that the most interesting impact of
the changes occurring all over the world is the overthrow of capital by
knowledge as the most important factor of production.
"The human brain, knowledge and skills
have won the battle over material resources," he said.
Stressing that as a way of boosting
research and development in the nation, his ministry through its agency, NITDA
recently began the establishment of IT Centres of Excellence, he noted that
these were designed as "world class R & D and high-end skill acquisition
institutions."
Prof. Isoun also said that the nation has
pushed back the thick fog of ignorance in the public service, which hitherto had
hindered the integration of IT in government operations.
Chief Chikelu and Prof. Ajayi later
declared the conference open.
This year’s NCS conference is a four-day
event being organized in collaboration with the Nigerian IT Professionals in the
Americans (NITPA).
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