Invitation to A4AI-Nigeria Meeting

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 from 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Venue: Sheraton Lagos Hotel in Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria We are pleased to hold the next A4AI-Nigeria coalition meeting alongside the Internet Freedom Forum 2017 (#IFF2017). The meeting will include presentations of the 2017 Global Affordability Report and the Africa and Nigeria snapshots. There will also be discussion sessions on topics such as public access and net neutrality, as well as updates on the work A4AI-Nigeria working groups are leading to address key barriers to affordability in the country. The meeting is open to all stakeholders. If you haven't done so, please register by tomorrowFriday, April 21st at 12:00 PM GMT+1 — space is limited, and we're nearly at capacity. View the agenda | Register here ABOUT A4AI The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI)—the world’s broadest technology sector coalition—brings together prominent players from government, the private sector, and civil society to work to reduce the cost of a broadband connection and enable billions more to come online. The A4AI-Nigeria coalition advocates for policy and regulatory reform in four priority areas: infrastructure sharing and open access, spectrum, consumer awareness and pricing transparency, and taxation and financing. JOIN THE COALITION Thank you for your continued support of A4AI and your commitment to making Internet in Nigeria more affordable. You can sign up to join the multi-stakeholder coalition and one or more of its working groups on the A4AI-Nigeria page. Questions? Email Karolle Rabarison, A4AI Membership Coordinator, at karolle.rabarison@webfoundation.org.

Register Now

Accusations against NITDA: What you need to know.

-------------------------

In a swift response, the Head Corporate Affairs and External Relations of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Mrs. Hadiza Umar released a signed document to the Press to refute the allegations that was making waves against the agency.

The management of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) described the information that employment racket in the Agency being circulated on some online news media is false.

The fake news is aimed at discrediting the laudable efforts of the current management that is laying a foundation for a stronger NITDA . 

Recall that the agency was able to achieve the following milestones since the the inception of a new Director General::

1. The Agency has since inception been involved in headhunting individuals that can add value to the effective execution of its mandate and has been engaging staff on Secondment. In this regard, there is no single staff that has been engaged on Secondment without due approval of the relevant authority;
2. There has been no employment in the Agency since the exit of Mr Peter Jack, the previous Director General. Only non-pensionable Consultants are being engaged on contract basis to support some offices, departments and units;
3. The allegations against some staff of the Agency have been thoroughly investigated about two months ago and found to be baseless and nothing but character assassination;
4. There has been no region that has been marginalised in the Agency as the North. Upon resumption of the Director General, there was no single full Director from the entire Northern Nigeria. Very soon the Agency’s nominal roll with states of origin of all staff will be made public;
5. The Director General is a man of proven integrity who vowed to do all he can in supporting Mr President’s fight against corruption in all forms, both within and outside the Agency. He has, for the first time, set mechanisms in place that will ensure transparency, accountability and value for money in all IT-based contracts in the country;
6. The Director General is the first in the history of the Agency to implement the Auditor General of the Federation’s report. In the over 1,000-page report, about 100 people were affected and the Director General ensured that all recommendations were carried out to the latter;
7. The Director General also ensured that contracts awarded by previous Administration were negotiated and reviewed downwards. A typical example is the e-Nigeria Conference where the Contractors brought down the cost by 10% and this was paid back to the account of the Federation. The negotiation saved money for government, not any individuals; and
8. The Director General has, in an effort to ensure transparency and accountability in service delivery, instituted a whistleblowing initiative. This is in addition to the Federal Government’s initiative and any staff member that provides credible information that results in the recovery of public funds is handsomely rewarded.

The Agency appreciated the reaction of the general public in bringing the attention of the news to the department responsible for clarifying the details. It reiterates that such action would support the success of the President’s fight against corrupt practices. She restated NITDA's commitment to serve the country in the best interest of all, without discrimination or unfair favour to any Nigerian.

-Opomulero omo Akinbo.