TECHDIGEST – The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation under Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan has issued a Guideline on Personal Information Technology Devices (PITeD) Provision and Usage in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The Guideline seeks, among others, to “foster strict adherence to government policies and global best practice in respect of data protection; provide clarity on the legitimate uses required on the part of users and the consequences of breaching the provisions of the Guideline”. 

In order to reinforce data privacy and protection practices in MDAs, Part X of the Guideline provides inter alia:-

1. Each MDA shall ensure that the usage of PITeD is consistent with Nigeria Data Protection Regulation and any regulatory instrument on data privacy and protection in Nigeria.
2. The measures to be taken by each MDA for the purpose of data protection and accountability shall include but not limited to the following:

1. Designation or appointment of a suitable officer within the MDA as a Data Protection Officer (DPO).
2. Development of a Data Protection Policy in line with Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and other applicable regulatory instruments on data privacy and protection.
3. Forwarding of the contact details of the data protection officer to the Office of the Head of Service and the Nigeria Data Protection
   Bureau.

It will be recalled that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, recently issued a service-wide circular directing MDAs to comply with the provisions of the NDPR. 

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The Nigeria Data Protection Bureau National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has lauded the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for taking this bold and strategic measure.  The Bureau sees this effort by the Federal Government as another clear demonstration of commitment to fundamental rights and freedoms which are often impacted by data processing.

In view of this encouraging development in the public sector, the National Commissioner has approved an extension of time for data controllers and data processors to comply with the earlier notice on National Data Protection Adequacy Programme (NaDPAP) Whitelist. The deadline for the submission of details of Data Protection Officers/Contacts, among others, has now been shifted to 20th of January, 2023.

Data Controllers and Processors who submitted before the deadline of November 25th, 2022 have been awarded full marks of 10 points under Accountability Metrics and Responsiveness to Regulatory Processes. This represents 10% of the total number of scores to be awarded in order to be eligible for inclusion on the NaDPAP Whitelist.

The Bureau will also evaluate data controllers and data processors on other performance metrics including but not limited to Implementation of NDPR Compliant Privacy Policy; Sensitization of Data Subjects on Data Subjects Rights; Filing of Annual Compliance Audit Returns and Globally Acceptable Information Security Certifications. 

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TECHDIGEST – The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has commended the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on its implementation of a seamless Performance Management System (PMS) in achieving its corporate objectives, and consequently gearing the nation’s digital economy towards an enviable global standard.

The commendation was given when the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, OHCSF, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi, and the Permanent Secretary, Service Policy and Strategy Office, OHCSF, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, along with other delegates visited the NITDA’s head office as part of its supervisory role in ensuring a service-wide implementation of the PMS in all government institutions.

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This commendation came barely a week after NITDA was awarded with the prestigious Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) organizational category by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a clear indication that the agency is aligning its efforts and commitment with the agenda of the present administration.

Dr. Esan stated that, part of the strategic plan of the OHCSF is to institutionalize Performance Management System in the entire service which has necessitated study visits to Agencies of government to evaluate their frameworks and proffer solutions to possible challenges.

“We are here to examine the framework you have put in place, share your experiences, challenges and lessons learnt with a view to implementing an effective PMS service-wide”, she mentioned.

While expressing her satisfaction at the framework presented by the Agency, Dr. Esan noted that the features and elements of the Agency’s PMS were highly impressive and would effectively track the performance of employees consistently and measurably.

She particularly lauded the agency on its all-year-round implementation of the PMS; a strategy she claimed will help them identify gaps early enough to proffer solutions and also urged them to intensify on their advisory role as stipulated by their mandate.

“I am really delighted and impressed by your PMS framework and I want you to know that we will need your cooperation and leverage on your experience”, she said.

Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi in his earlier presentation of the agency’s PMS, delightfully appreciated the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for sending representativs to NITDA, and described it as a privilege playing the host.

He disclosed that the agency commenced its PMS implementation in 2016 under the stewardship of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) the then Director General, and currently, the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

“At first, we could not align it with our Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) document, so we decided to send some of our staff to get more training on how effectively we can implement this particular activity”, said Abdullahi who was represented by the Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions (ITIS), Dr. Gambo Abdullahi.

“We are trying to see how we can reconnect the people’s practices with the vision of the agency and assess them appropriately and objectively while ensuring that people who didn’t perform well will understand and agree that they didn’t do well enough”, he added.

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TECH DIGEST – Yemi Esan, head of the civil service of the federation, has warned Nigerians over the existence of fake LinkedIn and Facebook accounts opened in her name.

According to a statement issued by her media office, the warning became necessary following the “rising activities of the scammers and the need to stem their antics”.

“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation wishes to draw the attention of the public to fake Facebook and LinkedIn accounts setup using names similar to those of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, alongside her photographs, and which are being promoted with the purpose of deceiving and defrauding unsuspecting individuals,” the statement reads.

“Unfortunately, despite frequent warnings and disclaimers and in some cases, the apprehending and parading of some of these devious elements by law enforcement agencies, unwary members of the public still fall prey to the activities of the scammers through the different impersonating social media accounts.

“Therefore, the issuance of this caveat has become necessary in view of the rising activities of the scammers and the need to stem their antics.”

According to the statement, official information meant for Nigerians from the head of civil service are disseminated through the “official website and Facebook page, which are www.ohcsf.gov.ng and @OHCSFNGR respectively”.

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