In an era where digital transformation drives governance, transparency, and innovation, Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has taken a bold and commendable step. By partnering with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to form a Joint Task Force, NITDA has demonstrated its determination to protect the nation’s expanding digital ecosystem from corruption, inefficiency, and mismanagement. This initiative is not just about fighting graft—it represents a broader commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s digital revolution is accountable, inclusive, and capable of delivering real value to citizens.

Over the past decade, NITDA has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most strategic public institutions, driving modernization across the public sector. Through the rollout of e-government platforms, digital innovation hubs, and the enforcement of data protection regulations, the agency has positioned itself as a leading force behind Nigeria’s digital economy. Landmark initiatives such as the Nigeria e-Government Master Plan and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) have provided the blueprint for digitizing public services and boosting efficiency across ministries, departments, and agencies. The implementation of the National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)—a cornerstone of secure digital transactions—has further strengthened public trust in government technology services.

Equally significant are NITDA’s capacity-building efforts, from the establishment of Digital Innovation Hubs nationwide to the creation of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in Abuja. These institutions nurture local talent, promote emerging technologies, and foster startup ecosystems. Initiatives like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program also underscore NITDA’s commitment to equipping Nigerians with both basic and advanced ICT skills needed to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

However, as Nigeria’s digital infrastructure grows, so too do the risks of mismanagement, duplication, and corruption—issues that have historically crippled other sectors. Even well-intentioned digital projects can falter without proper oversight, transparency, and technical competence. Recognizing these challenges, NITDA’s collaboration with the ICPC to form a Joint Task Force is a proactive and visionary response. The task force’s mandate is twofold: to ensure technical efficiency and financial accountability in government ICT projects. It will audit ongoing and completed initiatives, monitor procurement processes, and enforce transparency in contract execution. By combining NITDA’s technical expertise with ICPC’s investigative and enforcement authority, the task force bridges a longstanding gap between project implementation and anti-corruption oversight. This dual mechanism promises to serve as both a watchdog and a catalyst—detecting inefficiencies early, recommending corrective measures, and ensuring that digital initiatives are not only launched but sustained to achieve measurable outcomes.

The implications of this partnership go far beyond internal government reforms. By institutionalizing transparency in ICT projects, the NITDA–ICPC collaboration can help rebuild public confidence and attract greater private-sector participation. Citizens and investors alike are more likely to support and engage with government-led digital initiatives when assured that funds are used responsibly and outcomes are verifiable. Transparent project delivery also fosters predictability—an essential ingredient for startups and tech investors who rely on stable policies and credible governance structures. By curbing leakages and reducing cost overruns, the government can redirect savings toward expanding broadband access, upgrading infrastructure, and deepening digital literacy programs nationwide. In effect, the task force does not only protect public funds—it protects the credibility of Nigeria’s digital transformation.

While the partnership offers promise, it also faces potential hurdles. Political interference, vested interests, and bureaucratic inertia can undermine the independence and efficiency of the task force. To prevent this, clear governance protocols, leadership backing, and operational autonomy are vital. Additionally, ICT oversight demands specialized knowledge. The task force must invest in technical capacity-building, employ data-driven project management tools, and collaborate with civil society, journalists, and professional bodies. Transparent communication and periodic public updates will also be essential to reinforce accountability and public engagement.

Nigeria stands at a crucial crossroads in its digital journey. The foundations laid by NITDA—through data protection frameworks, digital inclusion programs, and innovation-driven policies—have set the country on the path toward a resilient digital economy. Yet, without robust oversight and accountability, these achievements risk being undermined. The NITDA–ICPC Joint Task Force represents a turning point—a model for how integrity and innovation can coexist in public administration. It shows that good governance in the digital age is not just about deploying technology, but about ensuring that technology serves the public good effectively and transparently.

If sustained with political will and operational diligence, this initiative could redefine Nigeria’s digital governance landscape—transforming public perception, accelerating economic growth, and making technology a true instrument of national progress.

Shuaib S. Agaka is a tech journalist and digital policy analyst based in Kano.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have announced the formation of a Joint Task Force on Digital Governance and Anti-Corruption to tackle the systemic corruption and fraud associated with government information technology (IT) projects.

The new task force is designed to strengthen the enforcement of the IT Project Clearance mandate and ensure that technology serves as an efficient tool for public service delivery.

The announcement was made during a high-level visit by NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi to the ICPC Headquarters.

In a press release jointly signed by Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications for NITDA, and Mrs. Anike Adeshina, Head of Media and Publicity for the ICPC Media Relations Department, stated that the collaboration aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 Trillion economy powered by digital transformation and the elimination of corruption.

The move is a direct response to a decades-long problem where billions of naira have been lost to failed or abandoned government IT projects. Many Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) have procured technological solutions without mandatory clearance, leading to duplication, inflated costs, and outright project failure.

NITDA DG Abdullahi stressed that the IT Project Clearance process is a national safeguard designed to track government IT spending and prevent the development of projects in silos. However, non-compliance has persisted, with FPIs and contractors bypassing the process to engage in contract splitting, use of unregistered contractors, and circumvention of due process.

ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, welcomed the collaboration, noting that corruption in IT procurement undermines both public trust and economic progress. He emphasized the ICPC’s readiness to use its statutory powers to hold both contractors and public officials accountable.

The Joint Task Force will combine NITDA’s technical oversight role with the ICPC’s investigative and prosecutorial powers to enforce compliance. Its mandate includes:
* Enforcement of IT Clearance: Ensuring all FPIs obtain mandatory clearance for technology projects, with the ICPC providing enforcement against violations.
* Monitoring and Sanctioning: Jointly monitoring IT projects and sanctioning defaulting FPIs in accordance with regulations.
* Integration of Tools: Embedding NITDA’s technical monitoring instruments into ICPC’s anti-corruption frameworks, such as the System Study & Review, to institutionalize compliance.

The two leaders agreed that the Joint Task Force will serve as a model of inter-agency cooperation, ensuring that digital transformation in government is corruption-free and deliver real value to citizens.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has perfected a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Communication Innovation and Digital Economy (MoCIDE) to advance the fight against corruption through the utilisation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

The collaboration was sealed during a courtesy call by ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijjani yesterday.

Recognising the pivotal role that DPI plays in combating corruption and fostering transparency and accountability in the public sector, ICPC is committed to leveraging this innovative technology to achieve its anti-corruption objectives.

The ICPC Chairman said “through our partnership with MoCIDE, ICPC will harness the power of DPI to enhance public registries and create an environment where corruption finds no refuge. By leveraging state-of-the-art digital solutions, we aim to establish a robust framework that leaves no room for the misappropriation of public funds or the concealment of ill-gotten gains”.

“Furthermore, in accordance with our statutory mandate outlined in Section 6, ICPC will provide expert guidance and oversight to ensure the effective implementation of DPI-based solutions to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices at every level of government. We remain steadfast in our commitment to driving systemic reforms that promote integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct across all sectors,” he added.

Dr. Aliyu further said, “the impact of this collaboration extends far beyond the realm of anti-corruption efforts. By strengthening transparency and accountability in the public sector through DPI, we anticipate significant improvements in the ease of doing business, economic growth, and job creation. Moreover, by fortifying the integrity of digital systems, we enhance Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage, attracting foreign investment and fostering sustainable development.

“As Nigeria’s lead anti-corruption agency, ICPC is fully dedicated to the pursuit of a corruption-free society. We call upon all stakeholders – government institutions, private sector organisationd, civil society groups, and citizens – to join us in this noble endeavor. Together, we can build a future where integrity, transparency, and accountability serve as the cornerstones of our nation’s progress.”

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The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasized the potential of automation in combating corruption during a Courtesy Visit by members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

Mr Kashifu expressed NITDA’s commitment to collaborating with ICPC to digitize its services and monitor corrupt practices in public institutions.Inuwa highlighted the ongoing efforts, stating, “Automation is a journey and not a one-off process.

“We have over two hundred and ninety-three processes to automate, selecting them step by step to achieve the Agency’s goals.”

He underlined NITDA’s role in aiding other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in their digital transformation initiatives.

The DG explained NITDA’s approach, including organizing training programs and establishing a technical Working Group to facilitate digital transformation within MDAs.

He underscored the importance of optimizing and re-engineering processes before automation, emphasizing that technology is a tool that requires prepared and open users for optimal results.Sharing NITDA’s digitization trajectory, Inuwa recounted his early days as NITDA DG, highlighting the need to reimagine the organization’s processes.

He introduced the “NITDA Digital Transformation Playbook” and emphasized the role of technology in eliminating corruption with the digitization of government services.

ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, acknowledged the critical role of technology in the Commission’s mandate to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption.

Aliyu stressed the importance of collaboration with NITDA, expressing optimism that digitization would enhance transparency, accountability, and effectiveness, fostering public confidence in the Commission.

In response, Inuwa affirmed NITDA’s openness to supporting ICPC’s digitization efforts and collaboration on critical areas, concluding that digital transformation is a continuous journey requiring improvement.

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TECHDIGEST – E-procure, IFFMER, and E-xpose emerged first, second third positions respectively among seven shortlisted innovations that pitched at innovations and ideas for the Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) Hackathon Demo Day organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with the technical support by the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) and in conjunction with the Ford Foundation.

The sum of 1.5 million, 1 million, and five hundred thousand naira cash prize were given to the three winners respectively

The hackathon with the theme “Innovative Technology Ideas to Curb Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows in Government Budgets and MDAs Procurement Process in Nigeria” took place at the ICPC Auditorium; was with the aim to develop indigenous solutions to curb Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and check for indigenous movement of funds within Nigeria and across international borders to ensure the effective monitoring procurement processes.

READ ALSO: eNaira will Enable Businesses Make Efficient, Reliable Payments – CBN Dep Gov

The seven startups that pitched at the hackathon used the School Feeding Programme (SFP) as a case study.
Giving his remarks, the NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE represented by the Director Standards, Guidelines, and Frameworks Mr. Oladejo Olawunmi said the hackathon is captured under three pillars of the Agency’s seven Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024) one of which are Indigenous Content Promotion, Digital Innovation, and Emerging technologies.

Inuwa while speaking on Indigenous Content Promotion said “we believe that we have to actually promote our content and have homegrown solutions here in Nigeria”.

He stated that “when we import technology only the technology is transferred and not the knowledge”.

He opined that it was not ideal to fight corruption with imported technology as there is always a back end.

For Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the DG said that innovation or idea pitched at any hackathon NITDA is part of, does not end there, but that the Agency takes it upon itself to ensure that those ideas are incubated, young innovators are mentored and given the needed exposure both within and outside the country to attract investors.

“NITDA has taken startups to international exhibitions and has won prizes at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX)”.

He added that Emerging Technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Big data and many more are new technologies that will be useful in curbing corruption.
The ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN during his opening remarks appreciated NITDA for the technical support it has rendered to make the hackathon successful stating that “the School Feeding Funds investigation and experience has led us to today’s activities support by Ford Foundation.

“IFFs remains a major avenue for diversion of revenue both in the local and transnational transactions and activities and the deliverables from this event is to have negotiation guidelines that we hope will be adopted by the government, and those who have businesses to do with the government will have a template to guide them on how to act for the government.
Giving a brief of the IFFs hackathon selection process, the team lead from NITDA, Dr. Zareefa Mustapha said there was a call for application and even there were over 2400 applications. She said for the screening processes hubs were engaged as consultants, as they know what is happening in the technology space and are in the best position to identify viable solutions.

Dr Mustapha said, “In the first stage of the selection process it was screened down to 50 and from, that it was screened down to 22.

“The 22 were interviewed and they did a demo of their technologies and that was how the top seven were selected”, she added.

Dr. Mustapha explained that the selected seven innovators were judged based on six criteria adaptability, originality, practicability, sustainability, accessibility, and technicality.

She said there was a booth camp for the selected seven at the Agency’s subsidiary National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and there were technical partners to guide them through.
The Regional Director, Ford Foundation West Africa Dr. Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye commended the innovators for intellectually tasking themselves to come up with their various innovations.

“Your technology may end up not being what the ICPC needs but it may be something that the Ford Foundation can take to the next level, “said the Regional Director

He added further that, “Even if you don’t win you are a winner, the technologies that you have developed could always be used for something else.”

The other innovations at the demo day were DBlaze App, Blockchain
Solution, CAVAS, and FoodySchool.

In attendance was the representative of the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, Mr. Kashim Ibrahim a Deputy Director in the ministry.

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TECHDIGEST – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its subsidiary, the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), is opening applications for the 2022 Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) Hackathon. The IFF Project is supported by Ford Foundation office for West Africa.

The Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) Hackathon is aimed at developing indigenous solutions to curb illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), check illegal transfer/movement of funds within Nigeria and across international borders, and ensure effective monitoring of procurement processes.

This Hackathon will also provide young Nigerians the opportunity to contribute their creativity and entrepreneurial skills by leveraging emerging technologies to combat corruption and other unethical practices impacting negatively on the socio-economic fortunes of the nation.

Therefore, these talented Nigerians will be tasked to come up with clearly-defined ideas and prototype solutions to checkmate IFFS with emphasis on leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud, Big data, blockchain, Quantum computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) among many others.

READ ALSO: Pantami Confirms Irregularities on IPPIS, Vows Review

The two-day event scheduled to hold on 1st and 2nd September 2022 will open with a bootcamp at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), Abuja while a Demo Day will take place at ICPC Auditorium, Abuja on the second day and final day.

Therefore, ONDI is calling for applications from eligible individuals/groups with an innovative ideas and prototypes that would leverage emerging technologies to help address the menace of IFFs within the nation’s expanding digital economy.
ONDI is a subsidiary of NITDA, created to ensure the promotion, growth, and protection of Nigerian digital innovation ecosystem for the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.

The Office has responsibility to facilitate the growth of the Nigerian digital economy through the creation of innovation-driven enterprises that will promote job creation and the proliferation of market-creating innovations to create more prosperity for Nigeria.

For more details on application requirement, interested individuals/groups should visit: https://bit.ly/iffhackathon and apply before the closing date on 26th August 2022.

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The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has declared that a demand for sexual gratification for favour or service rendered is an abuse of power and punishable under the ICPC Act.

Prof. Owasanoye stated this at a one-day Stakeholders’ Meeting on the draft policy on sexual harassment in educational institutions organised by the Commission in collaboration with the Ford Foundation.

The draft policy was reviewed by the stakeholders in the education sector, civil society organisations and the media.

In his welcome remarks, the ICPC boss disclosed that Section 19 of the ICPC Act criminalises the use of public office to gratify or confer corrupt or undue advantage on someone or others.

He said, “Sexual favour falls under the category of ‘benefit’. When a person in position of power or authority uses such power irresponsibly by demanding sexual gratification, it is an abuse of power under the ICPC Act.

“The Commission has successfully proved in court that sexual harassment is abuse of power where the perpetrator abuses his position and advantage to demand and at times obtain sexual gratification from the victim.

“Indeed, the Commission has in the case of FRN vs Richard Akindele established that mere demand for gratification is an offence which the Commission can and will prosecute.”

As part of measures to address the growing problem of sexual harassment, the ICPC Chairman explained that the Commission with the support of the Ford Foundation had initiated a project focusing on its mandate of enforcement, prevention, and public education.

The project, according to him, started with capacity building for investigators and prosecutors of the Commission to enhance their skills in understanding, investigating and prosecution of sexual harassment cases.

“The Commission is by this project improving its ability to respond to myriad cases of sexual harassment via abuse of power especially with regard to educational institutions most notably tertiary and secondary education institutions.

“This is not to suggest that sexual harassment does not exist in other areas of society but the situation with educational institutions can be rightly described as epidemic,” he added.

Prof. Owasanoye also told the stakeholders that the promotion of sexual harassment policies in educational institutions was in fulfilling the Commission’s prevention mandate.

“The stakeholders’ meeting is to critically review and evaluate the draft model policy prepared by the Commission that upon completion may serve as a guide for educational institutions from secondary to tertiary levels.

“The intention is to encourage educational institutions to introduce polices that will guide all stakeholders in their institutions on how to diminish and hopefully prevent sexual harassment and where it happens how to respond in the interest of all concerned.

“As precursor to this event, we have reviewed existing laws, practices and available policies on the topic and we have tried as much as possible to use this draft to close existing gaps bearing in mind the much anticipated legal regime to be introduced by the Sexual Harassment Act,” the chairman of the anti-corruption agency said.

The Project Consultant on the ICPC-Ford Foundation Partnership on Combating Sexual Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, presented the draft policy on sexual harassment to the stakeholders while a three-member panel critiqued the policy.

The panel was made up of Dr. Olanike Adelakun of the American University, Yola; Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi of the University of Lagos, and the National Public Relations Officer of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Habila Bala Balasa.

Signed:
Mrs. Azuka C. Ogugua
Spokesperson
28th February 2022

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TECH DIGEST – Two senior officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) are currently enmeshed in a N122 million fraudulent claims scandal, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively report.

The officials, Yakubu Gontor, head of the finance department, and Philip Eretan, former head of the internal audit department of the agency, received the funds as allowances for trips they never made.

They were indicted by an investigative committee which was set up by the commission’s governing board in 2020.

While Mr Gontor was said to have received a total of N54 million as accruable allowances for official trips he never made, Mr Eretan is said to have fraudulently raked in about N68 million.

The committee, which was headed then by Millionaire Abowei, a professor and member of the board of the commission, recommended that apart from refunding the illegally received monies, the two officials should be made to face a disciplinary panel with appropriate sanctions meted out to them, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

However, the Umar Danbatta-led management of the NCC, which in 2020 won the Ethics Compliance and Integrity Scorecards (ECIS) award of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has refused to discipline the indicted officials as recommended by the committee, nor call for their prosecution.

When contacted, the agency did not deny the allegations against its officials but said “it is an administrative matter that has been handled.”

Our reporter’s findings, however, revealed that the amount fraudulently claimed by these officials is being deducted in instalments from their emoluments.

Despite this, many workers at the agency, who are privy to the development, are wondering why the management of NCC has continued to shield the accused officials from prosecution.

Some of the workers, who spoke to our reporter on the condition that their names are not disclosed for fear of victimisation, said the leadership of the commission has, by its conduct, “made the agency undeserving of the award it received and celebrated just last November.”

They also alleged that the agency’s pledge to promote the culture of accountability during the launch of the ICPC anti-corruption unit at NCC headquarters was a mere “window dressing.”

NCC’s executive vice-chairman, Mr Danbatta, at the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in December, pledged to “continually maintain high ethical standards in all its regulatory activities consistent with the federal government’s efforts to entrench the culture of accountability and transparency in the ministries, departments and agencies.”

How it all began

In 2019, about 70 NCC officials noticed irregular deductions from their allowances over a period of time.A

Accordingto reliable sources, some eventually noticed cumulative deductions that ranged between N500,000 to N3 million depending on their levels and grades.

The development led to complaints by the workers who were told by the management that they flouted the agency’s cost-cutting measure that was put in place to minimise the cost of governance.

“We were accused of travelling beyond three times in a month as recommended by the cost-cutting circular. But our trips were approved by the same management and we reported when we returned,” an angry junior official told our reporter.

NCC Board sets up committee
The board of the NCC, which was then led by a former senator, Olabiyi Durojaye, set up an investigative committee to probe the matter but the coronavirus pandemic lockdown slowed down the committee.

Also, the abrupt removal of Mr Durojaye from office was also said to have affected the task of the committee.

But Mr Durojaye’s successor, Adeolu Akande, a professor of political science, could not ignore the cries of the workers, who had insisted that they did not flout any rule.

The new board, therefore, in 2020, set up another five-member investigative committee chaired by Mr Abowei. Other members of the committee included Ubale Maska, an engineer; Adeleke Adewolu, a lawyer; Salmon AbdulAzeez, an engineer, and the Commission’s secretary, Felix Adeoye. Mr Adeoye served as the committee’s secretary.

The committee commenced its probe in May 2020 and submitted its report to the board on June 24, 2020.

According to insiders, out of about 70 officials whose names appeared on the list, only the duo of Messrs Gontor and Eretan were indicted by the investigative committee.

However, almost one year after the report was submitted to the NCC board, and the board’s directive to the management to ensure the prosecution of the two indicted officials, the management is not known to have taken any action.

Another official of the commission, who also does not want to be named, told our reporter that; “All the other workers were refunded by the management but N54 million and N68 million respectively are being deducted from the pay of Gontor and Eretan.

“Though a disciplinary committee was initially set up by the board which was chaired by Mr Adewolu Adeleke, the committee insisted that the management needed to have queried the officials before facing the disciplinary committee. And since then, the management which is led by the executive vice-chairman, Prof Dambatta, has kept mute.”

EFCC’s aborted probe

PREMIUM TIMES is aware that between January and February 2020, both Messrs Guntor and Eretan frequented the Kaduna zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition by a yet-to-be-identified group.

But the new leadership of the EFCC in the zone has said it could not trace the details of the matter.

Speaking with our reporter in February, the new head of the zone, Sanusi Abdullahi, said he was only transferred to the zone in July 2020, and that he could not trace the files of the matter.”

“But we are still investigating and I can assure you that we will do our best to know what is amiss,” Mr Abdullahi said.

Group sues NCC, EFCC

A non-governmental organisation, Lygel Youths and Leadership Initiatives (LYLI), has filed an ex-parte motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja, against both the NCC and the EFCC.

The case with suit number, FHC/ABJ/CS/395/2021/ is seeking an order for leave of the court to apply for an order of mandamus “directing and or compelling the first defendant/respondent to reopen the investigation albeit discontinued or conducting a fresh investigation concerning the allegation of fraud against the former head of the second defendant’s department of audit and its incumbent head of the finance department.”

While the EFCC is the first defendant in the case, the NCC is the second defendant.

The group’s action according to its director of legal and compliance unit, Lekan Oladapo, is a reaction to the NCC refusal to accede to its request on the details of the corruption allegations against its staffers.

Mr Oladapo told our reporter on the phone that his organisation had in December 2020, written the executive vice-chairman of the NCC, accusing the management of condoning corruption.

The letter, a copy of which this newspaper obtained, is titled; “Condonation of Corrupt Practices and Obtaining Public Funds Under False Pretences: Our complaints”

“…it has come to our attention that there are serious cases of festering corruption being allowed to go unpunished in your organisation which was discovered sometime on or about June-July this year and the step being taken by the management of your organisation has been far from satisfactory,” the letter reads in part.

It, therefore, requested the report of the investigative committee and urged the NCC management to prosecute the indicted officials without delay.

In its response to the group’s enquiry, which was dated January 8, 2021, and signed by the director of legal and regulatory services, Josephine Amuwa, the NCC said the detail requested by the group was too broad.

The agency, therefore, demanded the specifics of the cases and pledged to respond appropriately.

On January 22, another letter was addressed to the agency by the NGO stating the specifics of the cases and demanded the report of the investigative committee and the resolutions of the board of the organisations on the matter as reportedly taken on June 24, 2020.

“It is our further request that the Commission should furnish us with official steps taken towards enforcing the reports with the related documents. Furthermore, your office is urged to enforce the relevant disciplinary actions to the affected staff and facilitate the speedy criminal investigation and prosecution as required by laws,” the letter reads in part.

In its second response to the group’s follow-up enquiry, the NCC noted that it could not honour the requests of the group.

Ms Amuwa said, “The Commission has reviewed the contents of your letter and notes that you have maintained that the information you seek is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and therefore cannot provide the information you required under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.”

NCC, accused officials evade questions
PREMIUM TIMES on several occasions reached out to Messrs Gontor and Eretan on the matter but they refused to respond to our reporter’s enquiries.

Calls and text messages sent to the duo were not responded to. Our reporter also sent them WhatsApp messages and even after reading the messages, they failed to respond.

This newspaper on Sunday also reached out to the spokesperson of the agency, Ikechukwu Adinde, on why the NCC has for months failed to act on the matter and he responded by saying the matter is “purely administrative”.

Hours after speaking with our reporter, he called back to say he would provide a substantive response to his inquiry. He is yet to do so as of Monday morning.

A right activist, Olowolafe Dunsi, said the actions of the agency show that “they did not deserve the transparency award given to them last year by ICPC. The officials indicted for fraud should be adequately dealt with.”

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TECH DIGEST – The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has pointed out that digital innovations and entrepreneurship are key to developing the digital economy in Nigeria.

He stated this during the Ministerial retreat organized by the Ministry for directorate cadre staff. The theme of the retreat is “Performance Improvement and Service Delivery in the Era of Digital Economy” held at the Digital Economy complex, Mbora, Abuja from November 16-17, 2020.

He said digital innovation and entrepreneurship are two prerequisites for developing indigenous digital economy and charged the staff to challenge citizens to come up with innovative ideas that would proffer solutions to societal problems.

According to him, “today we are a consuming nation and our economy will continue to suffer as long as we fail to integrate production in every sector of the economy. As a nation, we must excel in manufacturing and production, which is the way forward. Our day to day activities are to promote digital entrepreneurship and our target is to transform Nigeria into a leading digital economy” Dr. Pantami said that the Ministry involved stakeholders in the ICT sector, political parties, governors, traditional institutions, and religious leaders in developing digital policies for the nation adding that the policies are not about the present administration but long-time policies for the nation which would outlive the administration.

“We don’t think about the current administration in developing policies but our focus is about the country. We inherited documents from the previous administration which we implemented; we will also leave for the incoming administration because government is a continuum”.

The Minister stated that leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or members of an organization to achieve specific goals. He urged the management to work as a team and have analytical thinking so that they could break down complex information or comprehensive data into fundamental parts.

Earlier the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Musa Istifanus pointed out that the staff need to think outside the box to find solutions to Nigeria’s problems adding that the society would blame the Ministry if we fail to achieve digital economy objectives.

In her presentation titled “Strategy for Improvement on Implementation of Effective Service Delivery, the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli commended the management of the Ministry for the retreat to enhance digital economy strategy for the improvement on implementation of effective service delivery. In her words, service delivery has been given priority by governments in both developed and developing nations.

The service delivery gap that exists has to be bridged through the collaboration for effective service delivery. The Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye represented by Mr. Olayinka A. Aiyegbayo in his paper titled “Ethics and Integrity Compliance in the Workplace” pointed out that accountability and Transparency must be adapt and incorporated into the organization’s culture to enhance good governance, efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity in the workplace.

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TECH DIGEST – The 2020 Ethics Compliance and Integrity Scorecard (ECIS), released by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has ranked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over and above its sister agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

In the scorecard obtained by TechDigest, the telecom regulator top the list among three other agencies under the Ministry, which featured in the infra-ministerial agencies’ ranking in ethics compliance and institutional integrity with 81.15 per cent.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) emerged second with a total score of 74.05 percent; Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NigComsat) followed with a score of 31.9 per cent while the National Information Technology development Agency (NITDA) occupied the fourth position with 17.65 per cent.

The NCC also leads 24 regulatory agencies to emerge most ethically-compliant parastatal among 25 other regulatory agencies assessed in the anti-graft agency’s Ethics Compliance and Integrity Scorecards (ECIS), 2020.

According to the ICPC’s report, which measures how Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government comply with ethical, integrity, statutory, regulatory and policy standards and requirements, the NCC came first with a score of 81.15 percent in this category.

Findings by TechDigest shows that NCC’s ranking on the 2020 Scorecard may not be unconnected with the critical role it has played as a member of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), which is the Federal Government’s vanguard for promoting ethics and ensuring compliance to ethical codes within the Nigerian Public sector.

The Scorecard, which was deployed between July and September 2020 in 352 MDAs is a testament to the ethical culture and high standards of integrity, which characterize the operations and regulatory activities of the Commission.

As the internal anti-corruption and transparency mechanism put in place within the Commission to improve the integrity of internal processes for better service delivery, the ACTU has been instrumental to the implementation of ICPC’s framework for promoting an ethical environment.

The ranking by ICPC, in addition to demonstrating NCC’s commitment to the orderly growth and development of the Nigerian telecommunications industry, underscores the Commission’s strategic role as a key enabler of positive change within Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.

The telecoms regulator is conscious of President Muhammadu Buhari’s s vision on Anti-Corruption and is committed to continue to support the Federal Government’s digital economy agenda to rapidly advance the socioeconomic development of Nigeria, through leveraging Information and Communications Technologies to drive performance across all the critical sectors of the Nigerian economy through its fair, firm, forthright and transparent regulatory approach.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has deployed the Ethics Compliance and Integrity Scorecard in line with its proactive and preventive mandate under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 to reinforce its drive to strengthen integrity, accountability and transparency in the public service.

The ECIS, is deployed annually in selected government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to measure how MDAs comply with ethical, integrity, statutory, regulatory and policy standards and requirements.

The goal is to diminish corruption risk, improve ethics and integrity benchmarks and improve service delivery.

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