Plateau state government has issued guidelines for clearance of IT projects by all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in line with Governor Simon Lalong’s drive for transparency and more prudent spending of public funds.
This was made in a formal presentation of the new ICT Guidelines at the State Audit Department when the Director General of The Plateau State Information and Communication Development Agency PICTDA, David Daser in company of the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hon Gyang and the Chairman Plateau internal Revenue Board, Arlak Dashe, paid a courtesy visit to the State Auditor General, Mr Michael D Setle
David Daser, said under the new rule, MDAs are required to obtain clearance from the Plateau State Information and Communication Development Agency (PICTDA) for their IT projects. MDAs that fail to comply with the guidelines on IT clearance risk serious sanction including criminal prosecution in line with Governor Lalong’s agenda for sustainable development, public expenditure accountability and elimination of duplicity of projects within public institutions. Further more the DG PICTDA Stated that the new guidelines for clearance of IT projects is in conformity with the administration’s zero tolerance for corruption and “determination to ensure that public funds are used strictly for the benefit of the people of Plateau.” Among other objectives, the new guidelines will ensure that IT projects are not duplicated; allow for integration of IT systems and services by MDAs to save costs, promote shared services, interoperability and improve efficiency; ensure that the technology and services procured are suitable for Plateau State from the point of view of security and the environment; guaranty indigenous capacity for after-sales-service to sustain the project beyond the initial deployment; and also help to promote indigenous content and preference for indigenous companies where capacity or the product or service exists; and that the technology being implemented is up-to-date.
The Plateau State Auditor General, Mr Michael d Setle. in response said that the guidelines were apt and would help the audit department as they are not well informed in on ICT procurement stating that it will be a great relief that an agency like PICTDA will be responsible for clearance on ICT projects and purchases.
The team later proceeded to the state ministry of information where the same guidelines were presented to the commissioner of Information who was represented by the permanent secretary, Elder Michel Pam.
Last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) rated Plateau State as the least corrupt state in Nigeria after Imo State in its Second Corruption Survey Report. The survey was conducted in collaboration with other partner international agencies including the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime.For Plateau state, the rating validated the efforts of Governor Simon Lalong to entrench good governance, accountability, and transparency in the management of public funds.
