Issued on Friday 17th May, 2019

Office Address: NUJ Secretariat Complexs, Opposite Reinsurance House, Ahmadu

Bello Way, New GRABauchi, Bauchi state.

www.citad.org  info@citad.org

 

Ladies and  gentlemen of the  press,  we would like to welcome you to  this press conference  and to address  you on an important issue that  has to do with public expenditure management.

 

The Centre for  Information Technology and  Development (CITAD)  received with shock the  decision of the  Bauchi State House of Assembly to  repeal a law that provides  for the  investigation  of public officers who might  have misappropriated state  funds entrusted  in their hands. The House in its meeting on Wednesday 15th May, 2017 passed three bills, among which is “Bill for a Law to Repeal Bauchi State Public Property  and Funds  Recovery Tribunal  Law  2017” repealing  an earlier  law that  provides the investigation and prosecution of those suspected  to have looted public funds in the state.

 

In an unprecedented fashion, the  three  bills were  introduced that  day and  were subjected  to first, second and third readings the  same day after  which they were passed. Of concern to us is the bill that  cancels another  Law enacted  by the State House of Assembly in 2017 which made  provision for State Public Property  and Recovery Tribunal of 2017.

 

By this new bill passed by the state house of assembly, if allowed to be assented  in the state, it will cancel the initial Law that provides ground for the investigation and prosecution of anybody that  is found wanting in misappropriating the state  funds. We suspect  that  their  rationale  for such unpatriotic  bill is a ploy for people  who might have looted the  state  funds in the  outgoing government  to  cover up and protect themselves from investigation with the hope of getting away unpunished.

It is for this reason that we strongly condemn this bill and call on the State Governor

Barr. M.A Abubakar not to assent to it for the following reasons:

1. That a sensitive issue that  affects the  lives and the  economy of the people in the  state  should not be passed  without been  subjected  to public hearing.
2. As  a person  with high position in the  Law Profession, the  governor knows the implications of such counter bills to repeal an existing law made to safeguard the property of the state.
3. That this bill is to the detriment of good citizens of the state therefore, repugnant to natural justice.

While we at Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) say no to the bill, we also call on all reasonable and responsible stakeholders in the state  to equally do the same by openly condemning the bill.

Signed:

 

Mohammed Chiroma Hassan

Programmes Officer, CITAD Bauchi

08036451430

Chiroma@citad.org

The World International Telecommunication and Information Society Day was initially  called  The  World  Telecommunication  Day’  to  commemorate  the founding  of  the  International  Telecommunication  Union  (ITU)  which  was started in 1865.

 

The main objective of the day is to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the internet and new technologies. It also aims to help reduce the digital divide.

 

In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society asked the United Nations General Assembly to declare 17h May, as world information society day for showing  importance to the information  and  communication technology and the issues related to the information society raised by World Summit on information Society. The General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May. The first World Information Society Day took place on Wednesday, 17 May 2006.

 

While we join the entire world and the information  society in particular to celebrate the day, we at CITAD wish to draw the attention of all stakeholders in the country to use the day to reflect on the huge challenges of digital divide and ICT marginalization in our country.

 

While the world is moving to bridge the standardization gap with programmes aim   to   facilitate   the   efficient   participation   of   developing   countries   in Information Technology Union’s standards-making process, to disseminate information about existing standards, we in Nigeria are far left behind in terms of accessibility, availability and penetration levels of the internet and its usage. This is even worse when it comes to access and use of the internet by women and girls who face many obstacles related to culture, level education and gender norms etc.

Therefore, if the country will continue to move in this direction, without developing quick and effective, pragmatic approach towards solving the problems around access to information and the internet through creation of a robust mechanism of bridging the digital divide, the country will remain under developed and  thus, our economic and other social problems will further increase.

 

Our Call

In this context we will like call on government at all levels to ensure that:

1. 1. There is internet policy on ground that is aimed at solving the digital problems the country in facing today
2. 2. An enabling environment is provided for actors willing to contribute in the sector to help mitigate the problems.
3. 3. Ensure that citizens have fair access to data free of monopoly of the internet service providers
4. 4. All government agencies must not only be ICT friendly but stick to use of ICTs in their day to day operations and that should be made

compulsory on all staff to have the basic knowledge and skill of ICT.

5. 5. Prepare to address the issue of gender base violence online which is a major factor that promotes digital marginalization of women.

IT Private Sector

ICT companies working in the country should:

1. 1. Include targeting corporate social responsibility projects towards educating and training the citizens in the area of ICT
2. 2. Support CSOs that are working in the areas of ICTs to promote campaigns and awareness creation among the citizens in need to migrate from the analogue behaviour to digital.
3. 3. Reduce high cost of data and facilities especially in the rural area

CSOs

The civil society organizations in the country should:

1. 1. Intensify campaign on the need for the citizens to adopt and push t access and use internet in their endeavours
2. 2. Include in ICTs driven activities in their works

Conclusion

Access to information is a right and while digital technologies offers prospects to make this a reality, there are still obstacles being erected by governments and business organizations to limit. The governments and other stakeholders should work together to leverage these opportunities in our move to push the country forward through making our youth attained their potentials using the instrument of digital technologies

 

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

08064867312 isah@citad.org

The World International Telecommunication and Information Society Day was initially called The World Telecommunication Day’ to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which was started in 1865.

The main objective of the day is to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the internet and new technologies. It also aims to help reduce the digital divide.

In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society asked the United Nations General Assembly to declare 17h May, as world information society day for showing importance to the information and communication technology and the issues related to the information society raised by World Summit on information Society. The General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May. The first World Information Society Day took place on Wednesday, 17 May 2006.

While we join the entire world and the information society in particular to celebrate the day, we at CITAD wish to draw the attention of all stakeholders in the country to use the day to reflect on the huge challenges of digital divide and ICT marginalization in our country.

While the world is moving to bridge the standardization gap with programmes aim to facilitate the efficient participation of developing countries in Information Technology Union’s standards-making process, to disseminate information about existing standards, we in Nigeria are far left behind in terms of accessibility, availability and penetration levels of the internet and its usage. This is even worse when it comes to access and use of the internet by women and girls who face many obstacles related to culture, level education and gender norms etc.

Therefore, if the country will continue to move in this direction, without developing quick and effective, pragmatic approach towards solving the problems around access to information and the internet through creation of a robust mechanism of bridging the digital divide, the country will remain under developed and  thus, our economic and other social problems will further increase.

Our Call

In this context we will like call on government at all levels to ensure that:

1. There is internet policy on ground that is aimed at solving the digital problems the country in facing today
2. An enabling environment is provided for actors willing to contribute in the sector to help mitigate the problems.
3. Ensure that citizens have fair access to data free of monopoly of the internet service providers
4. All government agencies must not only be ICT friendly but stick to use of ICTs in their day to day operations and that should be made compulsory on all staff to have the basic knowledge and skill of ICT.
5. Prepare to address the issue of gender base violence online which is a major factor that promotes digital marginalization of women.

IT Private Sector

ICT companies working in the country should:

1. Include targeting corporate social responsibility projects towards educating and training the citizens in the area of ICT
2. Support CSOs that are working in the areas of ICTs to promote campaigns and awareness creation among the citizens in need to migrate from the analogue behaviour to digital.
3. Reduce high cost of data and facilities especially in the rural area

CSOs

The civil society organizations in the country should:

1. Intensify campaign on the need for the citizens to adopt and push t access and use internet in their endeavours
2. Include in ICTs driven activities in their works

Conclusion

Access to information is a right and while digital technologies offers prospects to make this a reality, there are still obstacles being erected by governments and business organizations to limit. The governments and other stakeholders should work together to leverage these opportunities in our move to push the country forward through making our youth attained their potentials using the instrument of digital technologies

 

Isah Garba

Senior Programmes Officer

Centre For Information Technology and Development (CITAD)

08064867312

isah@citad.org