By 
By Emmanuel Fagbenle
Plateau Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (PICTDA) has listed some high-points of Governor Simon Bako Lalong’s achievements one year into the second tenure of a four-year term. They include technology skill building targeting young people through the Code Plateau Initiative; and the Plateau Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy and Strategic Plan designed to drive the state’s vision at improving quality of life across sectors using ICT.
According to the Director General of PICTDA, Daser David, in a virtual interview with IT Edge News, Governor Lalong has provided rare leadership in helping to drive the frameworks for ICT human capacity building and policy awareness as well as adoption of technology across key sectors that drive the state.
“There is a gradual institutional acceptance of ICT in all public ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as a way of improving governance, quality of lives and delivery of services to citizens with the governor as the prime mover of this change,” said David to IT Edge News.
His words: “Under the guidance and support of Governor Simon Lalong in the first year of his second tenure, one of his achievements would be support of his administration for the Code Plateau Initiative through which PICTDA was aided at building tech skills in young people to be part of not just Nigeria but the global digital economy. The agency recorded a success rate in turn-up and certified participants at the end of the training.
“[Also is] the e-Government policies of the “Rescue Administration” which set a template to drive speed, efficiency, and save costs in the delivery of government services to the citizens.”
The Code Plateau Initiative is part of a larger framework for digital inclusion and skill-building within the Silicon Plateau agenda by Lalong to rework the state’s economy and leverage global IT opportunities.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of challenges, it has also deepened the reliance on technology and a wider appreciation of ICT roles in impacting meaningful changes, David stressed.
“The presence of COVID-19 did indeed create innovative challenges and distorted a lot of the initial plans set for the year. Never-the-less, our focus for the remaining months is strictly on integration of governments and digital services. We have automations ongoing that have already been deployed months ago, each automation is currently working in “file loads” but we’re heading towards integration of MDAs to enable data sharing and also what we call a ‘Whole of Government,” said David to IT Edge News.
“The state also became at the forefront of technology implementation and deployment. First with the utilization of CCTV cameras to monitor and police the borders through tech aided surveillances. We were the first state in Nigeria to have used an online platform to issue movement permit during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.”
David admitted there are headwinds. But as the ICT clearinghouse for Plateau State, the agency’s role in public procurement, digitalising of all government processes and compliances with standard national IT procedures have enjoyed continuous support from Governor Lalong.
Change is difficult to implement, said the PICTDA’s boss but the “Rescue Administration” of Governor Lalong has continuously responded to putting the state ahead particularly aa it concerns national ICT policies. The state is one of the few states that has signed for zero charges on right of way (RoW) to enable ICT companies rollout services that will benefit citizens without hindrances.
Also, Plateau is one of leading states in terms of compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), 2019 – a national data protection guideline for all public and private entities engaging citizens data in Nigeria.
“We are fully on board with the policies and regulations of NDPR. Our revenue board is already undergoing the audit; our ministry of finance and ministry of lands are on queue to meet up compliance with the data regulation.
“We do take it serious and ensure all departments are in compliance with the federal government directives on data protection. We are working to make sure that every organisation in the state complies with this FG directive.”
