At the public hearing in Abuja, members of the Joint Committee from House of Representatives raised objections to the continuation of the public hearing of the Bill, citing the absence of the Minister and the Director General (DG), NITDA, non-availability of materials on the Bill and the fact that the event was coming at a time the NASS members were already on ‘holiday mood’ as factors that stalled the public hearing.
This observation pitched the members of the Committee from both houses against one another as Reps members expressed disappointment that no apology was received either from the Minister or the DG while none of their representatives was at the public hearing.
The members also observed that the House didn’t have enough representations to form quorum for the Senate and House members of the Joint Committee.
Honorable Uzoma Njem-Abonta, (Ukwa Eat/West Constituency raised an objection to proceeding further with the hearing in the midst of scanty representation of stakeholders, as well as lack of document for the bill
“Be that as it may, the drivers of this Bill seem to be driving on low gear. The Senate President talked about a rumour that there was an insinuation that the public hearing was being done in secret. There is nothing secret, it is public, however, the necessary ingredients for us are not there. I’m speaking from the perspective of the 36 members of the House.
“Critically too, the documents required are not even here; we don’t have the documents before us. Members are not here, the Minister is not here, what needs to be done should be properly done. We are not on vacation but on holiday mood.
“Like the Senate President said, we are supersonic digital but we have to do a good job so that by the time we finish, the world will know that we have worked.”
Senator Yakubu Oceini said, “I want to put it on record straight that if there is any anomaly or any document that is missing, it should be a fault from your side, the House of Representative members.
“For us in the Senate, everything is intact and the necessary documents concerning the bill have been circulated through digital means online. So, I believe if you are conversant with your system, you should have been able to see it. On the other hand, even if the NITDA DG is here, he is not the one to respond to questions.”
Another House member, Hon Isiaka Ibrahim, said, “This is a very fundamental hearing today as far as we are concerned and for those of us on this divide. Nobody is representing the Minister, the main driver, who is to be asked questions is not here and no apologies.
The Committee adjourned the hearing till January even as certain clauses in the bill had raised concerns among stakeholders, which they said usurp the powers of other agencies of government.
One of the controversial aspects of the bill is clause 10, which empowers NITDA to fix permit fees, charges, and collect fees or penalties as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions.
The bill also established National Information Technology Development Fund, which shall be funded by a levy of one per cent of the profit before tax of companies and enterprises with annual turnover of N100 million and above.
It listed the affected companies to pay level to include mobile and fixed telecommunications companies; information technology companies, gaming companies, and e-commerce companies; foreign digital platforms targeting the Nigerian market; banks, financial institutions, and fintech companies, and insurance companies among others.
