Ease of doing business: NITDA set to facilitate MDAs’ compliance

THE National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it has conducted business-friendly assessment of the websites of federal ministries to facilitate the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

According to a press statement signed by the Director-General of the agency, Dr Isa Pantami, the assessment is based on an executive order by the Acting President Yemi Osinbanjo.

Pantami said that the order was to promote transparency and efficiency in the business environment as it relates to ICT for efficient service delivery.

He said that the assessment of the MDAs websites revealed that most were not in conformity with published standards and guidelines.

He said that most of the websites did not have feedback mechanism and information necessary to facilitate ease of doing business.

He said that only about 25 to 37 per cent of the websites had reachable phone numbers and email addresses.

Pantami added that some did not have complete list of website links of the agencies under their supervision and carry outdated contents.

“In addition, some ministries either have no active websites or are not registered on .GOV.NG domain.

“Businesses and citizens expect more transparent, accessible, and responsive services from government agencies and it is essential that federal ministries take the lead in ensuring that information provided on their websites meet such expectations.’’

He, therefore, urged affected ministries and agencies to ensure their websites contained accurate information and means of interaction such as online feedback.

“Also, the contents and the list of website links of the agencies under their supervision must be complete and up-to-date.’’

Pantami said that detailed requirements or conditions for service provision and electronic mode of communicating acceptance and rejection of applications as stated in the executive order were conspicuously published.

“Furthermore, government agencies at all levels are required to use the .GOV.NG domain in line with Nigerian content in ICT promotion.

“The .GOV.NG domain is Nigerian government identity on the Internet. Recently, NITDA’s management has put in place more efficient and effective measures to improve service delivery of the .GOV.NG domain.

“Requests for domain registration and other support services are attended to within 24hrs if all the requirements are provided.

“Further information on these requirements can be obtained by sending requests to domains@nitda.gov.ng.

“We therefore call on all MDAs and other stakeholders in the IT sector to support the agency in ensuring compliance to the standards and guidelines for government websites,” he said.

The director-general said this would assist in facilitating ease of doing business and e-governance adoption and penetration for effective, transparent, accessible and responsive service delivery in the country.

NAN reports that NITDA is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications created in 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and coordinate general IT development and regulation in the country.

It is also to advise government generally on matters and issues concerning ICT as well as ensure Internet governance and supervision of the management of the country code top-level domain (cctld.ng).