ATCON urges FG to reintroduce indigenization policy

Association of telecommunication companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has urged the federal government of Nigeria to reintroduce the indigenization policy in the form of local contents policy if we are to eradicate unemployment in the country.

Mr. Muyiwa Ogungboye, second vice president, Association of telecommunication companies of Nigeria ATCON, disclosed this at the Nigeria Information and Communications Technology Reporters’ Association’s (NITRA), quarterly forum with the theme, “Local content development in Nigeria’s ICT sector: stimulant for national economic recovery” held recently in Lagos.

He stated that government should urgently reintroduce the indigenization policy in the form of local contents policy; if we are to reduce or eradicate the continuous unemployment of Nigerian youth whether skilled and or unskilled.

He noted that the benefits of liberalizing the telecom and ICT sector would not accrue to teeming Nigerian population until the necessary action is taking by the Nigerian government at all levels.

Ogungboye, who is also the Managing Director/CEO eStream Networks, decried the lack of zeal by government to tenaciously pursue the indigenization policy embarked upon many years earlier.

He cited the case of Ghana who has one of the most protective policies for her citizen in terms of employment and investment.

According to him, “Ghana as a case study has one of the most protective policy for her citizen in terms of employment and investment and majority of the developed countries do not play lip service to the issue of employment of their citizens.

“As a matter of fact, they make sure that their nationality is considered for any employment opportunity before any other nationality is considered as goes for South Africa.