Nigeria Government Orders Crackdown On Unqualified IT Practitioners

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to take strict measures against unregistered individuals and organisations operating in the Information Technology (IT) sector to regulate the industry.

Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, has directed the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), a government agency that regulates, controls, and supervises Nigeria’s computing profession and practice, to enforce registration requirements.

While emphasising the importance of professionalism and standards in the industry, the minister cautioned that those who work in IT without proper registration will face legal consequences.

“The global practice is for professionals to regulate their profession properly to exterminate quacks and undesirable elements from making incursions into the profession. That is the practice all over the world, and we are in total support of it.

“Therefore, all individuals and corporate organisations that are into information technology practice should register with the Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) to allow for effective regulation of computer education and practice in Nigeria,” Yusuf says.

The FG also took a similar stance in 2019, when the then-Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, directed the 2019-2021 Council of CPRC to strengthen its monitoring system and combat unregistered individuals and corporate organisations that practise or offer information technology services in Nigeria.

Besides, in May 2023, the Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) (CPN), warned quacks to stay away from the Nigerian IT industry.

Kola Jagun, President and Chairman of In-Council, stated that the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) will begin enforcing regulations once enough awareness and advocacy efforts have been made to eliminate unprofessional and unethical behaviour from the industry.

The Computer Professionals of Nigeria was established by Decree No. 49 of 1993 to oversee and regulate the computing industry in Nigeria. Its responsibilities include setting standards for knowledge and skills, keeping a register of computer professionals, accrediting programmes and institutions, and publishing the register and other computing works.

It also screens individuals and corporate bodies seeking to engage in computing activities, ensures high professional ethics and standards, and conducts professional examinations.

Recently, Nigeria has increased its efforts to expand its digital sector. On April 22, 2024, the government announced the release of its first multilingual large language model (LLM) as part of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy’s Artificial Intelligence development efforts.