IT Agency Bill to Enhance E-Governance – Itu Lawmaker
By Abigail Isaac
Akwa
Ibom State House of Assembly received notification of the Bill
yesterday which was read for the first time by the clerk of the House,
Mrs. Mandu Umoren.
The
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey in his presiding committed
the Bill to House Committee on Rules, Businesses, Ethics and Privileges
for rescheduling.
In line with the current trend that technology has
aided the human race beyond measure, and with many advancements and
conveniences, the Bill is seeking for the establishment of an
Information Technology Development Agency in Akwa Ibom State for
enhancement of e-Governance to engender transparency.
It
is pertinent to note that there is urgent need for the State to be at
par with her contemporaries, in line with the post COVID-19 economic
realities, where Information Technology will play key role.Notably,
despite the importance of information technology in the modern society,
Akwa Ibom is yet to fully embrace, tap and harness its potentialities.
This has cost the State a great deal and has made the State to lose out
on a number of opportunities information technology renders.
With that said, it is imperative to establish an agency called “Akwa Ibom State Information Technology Development Agency” (AISITDA) to manage and promote the operations of information technology in the State.
With that said, it is imperative to establish an agency called “Akwa Ibom State Information Technology Development Agency” (AISITDA) to manage and promote the operations of information technology in the State.
Having
in mind that such Agency when in place, will create a frame work for
the planning, research, development, standardization, application,
coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of Information
Technology practices, activities and systems in the state, while also
providing universal access for Information Technology and systems
penetration including rural, urban and under-served areas.
The
proposed Agency when established, will not only promote optimal
performance and electronic Governance, but shall also be saddled with
the responsibility of developing guidelines for electronic governance,
effective monitoring of electronic data interchange and other forms of
electronic communication transactions as viable alternative to
paper-based methods as currently dominant in the public and private
sector.
Enormous benefits of establishing such
Agency will include but not limited to: development of guidelines for
the networking of public and private sector establishment; development
of guidelines for the standardization and certification of Information
Technology Escrow Source Code and Object Code Domiciliation, Application
and Delivery Systems in Nigeria; offering advisory services in all
information technology matters to the public and private sectors.The
Bill shall also captured the setting up of information technology parks
in strategic locations across the state, and formulation of appropriate
regulatory policies and incentives to encourage private sector
investment in the information technology industry, to enhance
accelerated penetration of internet and intranet in Akwa-Ibom to boost
e-Governance.
While a section of the Bill seeks to optimize cyber security in the State, the Agency when put in place, is expected to create thousands of jobs for Akwa Ibom Youths and also establish technology hubs.
Retrospectively, In 2017, the Economist declared that the world’s most valuable resource was no longer oil, but data (a major component of information technology). At a recent Africa Technology Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, tagged ‘Africa Tech Summit Kigali,’ some experts are now of the view that data is now Africa’s ‘new blood’ as against the old narrative that data is the ‘new oil’ for Africans.
While a section of the Bill seeks to optimize cyber security in the State, the Agency when put in place, is expected to create thousands of jobs for Akwa Ibom Youths and also establish technology hubs.
Retrospectively, In 2017, the Economist declared that the world’s most valuable resource was no longer oil, but data (a major component of information technology). At a recent Africa Technology Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, tagged ‘Africa Tech Summit Kigali,’ some experts are now of the view that data is now Africa’s ‘new blood’ as against the old narrative that data is the ‘new oil’ for Africans.
E–governance beyond any doubt has become a necessary political mechanism in
evaluating government performances in many developed parts of the world. The use of
Information and Communication Technology in government businesses through promoting
government’s role in delivering services, public administration and promoting active
participatory democracy has been gaining an impelling force in the global community and with the proposed Bill, Akwa Ibom State shall not be left out of this global trend.
Information and Communication Technology in government businesses through promoting
government’s role in delivering services, public administration and promoting active
participatory democracy has been gaining an impelling force in the global community and with the proposed Bill, Akwa Ibom State shall not be left out of this global trend.
Expectedly,
the application of e-governance in the State shall serve as a mechanism
in enhancing citizen’s participation, keeping taps and evaluating
government
projects, ensuring government accountability and transparency as well as transferring
information from one sector to another appropriately.
information from one sector to another appropriately.
Also,
the proposed Agency when established will encompass a broad vision of
the utilization of Information and communication technology in
government businesses with the primary aim of encouraging greater
participation in the state, as well as enhancing the relationship
between the government and citizens.
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