office for the Nation Content (ONC) writes VP over foreign computer procurement

Office for the Nation Content (ONC) writes VP over foreign computer procurement

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

The Office for the Nigerian Content in Information and Communication Technology has written to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the contravention of the nation’s local content policy by Ministries, Department and Agencies of government through their preference for and procurement of foreign computers and other ICT equipment.

In the letter dated December 9, 2015 and entitled: ‘Enforcement of the Nigerian ICT local content guidelines through the annual budgeting process’, the National Coordinator of the ONC, Mr. Inye Kemabonta, said a significant number of the MDAs had in their 2016 budget proposals indicated plans to purchase foreign brands of computers in contravention of the local content policy of the Federal Government.

In the letter, which was copied the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Kemabonta described the contravention of the local content policy as an economic crime and sought the prosecution of all the MDAs that continued to indulge in the act.

Kemanbonta wrote, “The Office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT has observed with dismay that a significant number of the MDAs have in their 2016 budget proposals specified foreign brands of computers, IT equipment and infrastructure that local Original Equipment Manufacturers have capacity to produce locally.

“This action not only negates the job and wealth creation thrust of the government, but is in direct contravention of the guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT, a regulation that came into force on December 3, 2013.

“The contravention of the regulatory guidelines is a crime under sections 17 (4) and 18 of the NITDA Act of 2007. Apart from that, we are moved to urgently bring this worrisome development to your attention by the following facts:

“Statistics show that every imported foreign computer or purchase of foreign ICT equipment is an unfortunate export of potential jobs out of Nigeria; such imports, in spite of local capacity, puts pressure on the naira and makes our country a perennial consumer nation; local content in ICT, especially, is directly relevant to the drive to diversify the economy and make it knowledge-driven.

“The infringement of the regulatory guidelines is indeed an economic crime against our nation and should be so treated.”

He added, “In view of the foregoing, we earnestly and urgently request your excellency to direct that the Ministry of National Planning and Budget and the Bureau of Public Procurement to assist in the implementation of the Local Content Guidelines with regard to the purchase of indigenous ICT products through the annual national budgeting process; all MDAs to clear their ICT projects with the NITDA in line with extant service-wide circulars;

“The relevant law enforcement agencies begin the prosecution of cases of contravention of the local content guidelines as economic crimes.”

The ONC is a Special Purpose Vehicle established as a sustainable institutional framework to enforce compliance with the regulatory guidelines on Local Content in ICT under the NITDA Act of 2007.

It was established by the then Ministry of Communication Technology in collaboration with NITDA and the Nigerian Communications Commission.