WITH a year to the commencement of the 2015 general elections in the
country, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has said that it will engage
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on possible
technical areas that would need assistance that will aid the process.
This, according to NCS would not exclude e-voting.
Though, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega had said that it would be “practically impossible” to adopt the electronic voting model for the 2015 general elections, stressing that its usage would still be impossible even if the National Assembly lifted the ban on it.
Jega, however, stated that with regard to improving the integrity of the elections, the commission would deploy card readers for establishing the true identity of voters at polling units on election days.
But, the NCS, an umbrella body of the Nigerian IT professionals on Monday, in Lagos, said that the request to offer technical assistance, especially in the areas of technology deployment is in the interest of adding value and quality to the election process, adding that it is a necessity not a luxury for the desired IT-enabled national transformation.
NCS president, Prof. David Adewumi who disclosed this move, while unfolding the society activities ahead of it national conference slated for Enugu State in July, noted that there was need for INEC to collaborate with IT professionals for the 2015 general elections.
The essence of NCS engagement with INEC, according to him would be to ensure that the electoral body was well guided in deploying IT solutions to the electoral process so that ultimate results of the elections in the country would be seen to be accurate and truly reflect the wishes of the electorates.
Adewunmi said that NCS would be engaging the regulatory authority on how best to achieve a successful and transparent voting system in the elections.
“We will be talking to INEC as advocacy group. It is time the government engages the IT professionals’ scheme of things. All personnel carrying out core IT professional duties in the government agencies must be registered professionals as stipulated in Act 49 of 1993,” he noted.
While requesting INEC to be transparent and fully unfold its strategies for deploying IT for the entire electoral process so that professionals could offer advice where necessary, he said that there was need to engage IT professionals so as to achieve digital economy in the 21st century.
“The essence of this engagement is to ensure that INEC is well guided in deploying IT to the electoral process so that ultimate results of future elections in Nigeria are seen to be accurate and truly reflect the wishes of the electorates.
“Stronger stakeholder partnerships with NCS will build an inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous Nigeria that will be the envy of other African nation,” he added.
The NCS boss noted that the nation is not fully harnessing the growth opportunity of the IT industry, academia, profession, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
“Appropriate recognition, policies and legislation still needs to be put in place. There is a glaring need to incorporate and prioritize the role of the IT sector if Nigeria is to be a key player and fulfill its promise in the 21st century.
“Nigerian Information Technology professionals, through its national umbrella body, NCS are very uncomfortable with their lack of representation in the composition of the National Conference.
“How can we be part of a 21st century that is building a digital economy without inputs from the Information Technology industry and professionals?” he asked.
Going forward and for the records, Adewumi requested the recomposition of the national confab conference delegates to include adequate representation from the NCS.
According to Adewumi, stronger stakeholder partnerships with the NCS would help to build an inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous Nigeria that would be pave the growth path for other African countries.
He disclosed that this year’s edition of the NCS conference has the theme: “Building a Knowledge-Based Economy in Nigeria: The Role of IT’’, saying that the conference is the largest assembly of high-level stakeholders from all walks of life.
“It is the key networking and professional event for advancing Information Technology for development and promoting the interests of IT stakeholders in the country.
“It always provides standards and direction for IT development in Nigeria. In recent years, some of its standards and solutions have been cash-less, e-government and national security,’’ the NCS president said.
Guardiannews
Though, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega had said that it would be “practically impossible” to adopt the electronic voting model for the 2015 general elections, stressing that its usage would still be impossible even if the National Assembly lifted the ban on it.
Jega, however, stated that with regard to improving the integrity of the elections, the commission would deploy card readers for establishing the true identity of voters at polling units on election days.
But, the NCS, an umbrella body of the Nigerian IT professionals on Monday, in Lagos, said that the request to offer technical assistance, especially in the areas of technology deployment is in the interest of adding value and quality to the election process, adding that it is a necessity not a luxury for the desired IT-enabled national transformation.
NCS president, Prof. David Adewumi who disclosed this move, while unfolding the society activities ahead of it national conference slated for Enugu State in July, noted that there was need for INEC to collaborate with IT professionals for the 2015 general elections.
The essence of NCS engagement with INEC, according to him would be to ensure that the electoral body was well guided in deploying IT solutions to the electoral process so that ultimate results of the elections in the country would be seen to be accurate and truly reflect the wishes of the electorates.
Adewunmi said that NCS would be engaging the regulatory authority on how best to achieve a successful and transparent voting system in the elections.
“We will be talking to INEC as advocacy group. It is time the government engages the IT professionals’ scheme of things. All personnel carrying out core IT professional duties in the government agencies must be registered professionals as stipulated in Act 49 of 1993,” he noted.
While requesting INEC to be transparent and fully unfold its strategies for deploying IT for the entire electoral process so that professionals could offer advice where necessary, he said that there was need to engage IT professionals so as to achieve digital economy in the 21st century.
“The essence of this engagement is to ensure that INEC is well guided in deploying IT to the electoral process so that ultimate results of future elections in Nigeria are seen to be accurate and truly reflect the wishes of the electorates.
“Stronger stakeholder partnerships with NCS will build an inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous Nigeria that will be the envy of other African nation,” he added.
The NCS boss noted that the nation is not fully harnessing the growth opportunity of the IT industry, academia, profession, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
“Appropriate recognition, policies and legislation still needs to be put in place. There is a glaring need to incorporate and prioritize the role of the IT sector if Nigeria is to be a key player and fulfill its promise in the 21st century.
“Nigerian Information Technology professionals, through its national umbrella body, NCS are very uncomfortable with their lack of representation in the composition of the National Conference.
“How can we be part of a 21st century that is building a digital economy without inputs from the Information Technology industry and professionals?” he asked.
Going forward and for the records, Adewumi requested the recomposition of the national confab conference delegates to include adequate representation from the NCS.
According to Adewumi, stronger stakeholder partnerships with the NCS would help to build an inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous Nigeria that would be pave the growth path for other African countries.
He disclosed that this year’s edition of the NCS conference has the theme: “Building a Knowledge-Based Economy in Nigeria: The Role of IT’’, saying that the conference is the largest assembly of high-level stakeholders from all walks of life.
“It is the key networking and professional event for advancing Information Technology for development and promoting the interests of IT stakeholders in the country.
“It always provides standards and direction for IT development in Nigeria. In recent years, some of its standards and solutions have been cash-less, e-government and national security,’’ the NCS president said.
Guardiannews