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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
President Buhari warned members of the governing boards of the agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy not to incite public hatred and acrimony over awarding of contracts, vowing that his administration would not put up with such a development.
Buhari gave the members the advise after inaugurating them as members of board’s of: the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), the National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), and the Nigerian Postal Service, (NIPOST), at the Digital Economy Complex, Abuja.
The President who was represented by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami while inaugurating the 44 Members Boards, cautioned the board members to stay clear of awards of contracts, as it has nothing to do with their mandate, and urged them to carry out their responsibilities based on the Act establishing their Agency, the Commission.
He expressed his complete disgust at the sour atmosphere generated in some agencies as board members sparred with agency heads over contract awards. He claimed that the government had kept 90 percent of the board members of the three agencies because they had performed their duties honestly.According to him “the Ministry had carried out its mandate in accordance with the directive of President Buhari, and urged the Boards Members to be prepared to do the same to enable the administration fulfilled its promises to the citizens.”
The President said there would be no excuse for failure on the part of the Boards Members, explained that the achievements of the Ministry has become unprecedented in the past three years as it had increased revenue generation to government coffers by over 600 percent.
“We have successfully implemented the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, the National Broadband Plan, the National Policy on National Identity Numbers and Registration, and the National Policy for SIM/NIN on Internally Displaced Persons.
“The Ministry has contributed 17.9 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), enrolled 87 million Nigerians on the National Identity Numbers database from 42 million two years ago.” He said
NITDA has 19 members board, NIMC 17, NIPOST 8.
Members of NITDA are, chairman Dr Abubakar Saidu, Hon Kunle Salako, Dr Habibu Imam, Abubakar Bello and Hon Amarachi Nwanafo and Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, DG, NITDA as secretary among others. NIMC has Prof Jalo El Nafaty as Chairman, while NIPOST has Barrister Maimuna Yahaya Abubakar as Chairman.
