Minister of Communications, Mrs Omobola Johnson
By Emma Okonji
The Ministry of Communications Technology has released a draft of the national Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy for the country as it called on all stakeholders of the Ministry and members of the public to review the draft policy and make contributions.
The draft national ICT policy was posted on the Ministry’s website on yesterday, and it is expected to be there for two weeks to allow for inputs before it is presented to the Federal Executive Council (FCC).
The policy document is the harmonisation of the disparate policies governing the ICT industry, and will serve as the general guide and platform for the overall development of the ICT industry that would facilitate the creation of a digital knowledge based economy.
Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, had on August 25, 2011, set up an adhoc committee to harmonise all the various policies for the different sectors in the ICT industry, which includes Telecommunications, Broadcasting, Information Technology and Postal Services.
The harmonisation of the various ICT policies marks the first step in the restructuring of the industry for the overall development of the ICT sector.
The nine-man committee, chaired by the President of Digital Bridge Institute, Prof. Raymond Akwule, was given six weeks time frame to conclude the harmonisation of all ICT policies into a single policy.
The committee had since completed its task and submitted its report to the Ministry which took time to study it before releasing it for public input.
The terms of reference of the committee was to harmonise all existing policies in the ICT sector into a single ICT policy.
The objective of the national ICT policy as contained in the draft policy, include to reflect convergence by de-emphasising the differences between Information Technology (IT), broadcasting, telecommunications and postal sectors; to bring all ICT related activities under a single ministry so as to give policy guidance to the converged industry; and to enact new ICT Act that would ensure a competitive and converged industry as well as provide an appropriate legal framework.
to develop and enhance indigenous capacity in ICT technologies and software development; to establish an administrative and legal framework for the transition to digital broadcasting and ensure a smooth switchover in accordance with the International Telecoms Union (ITU) guidelines; to establish the framework for the implementation of community radio in Nigeria, among others.
The harmonised ICT policy, when implemented, is expected to address appropriate policies, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks as well as a converged ICT regulatory agency. It will address affordable and reliable access to ICT, investment in ICT, research and development in ICT, legislations in cybercrimes, ethical and moral conduct, privacy, copyrights, intellectual property rights, piracy and e-transactions.
The draft policy spelt out the roles of all five agencies under the Ministry of Communications Technology, which include the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), and Galaxy Backbone.
The draft policy looked at the proposed government institutional structure, the roles of government, Ministry, the converged regulator, ICT development agency, national frequency management council, public postal operator, as well as their policy focus areas in ICT development.