NCS Calls for Collaboration with FG, Financial Institutions

Emma Okonji

Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body for all Information Technology (IT) professionals in Nigeria, has called on the federal government to collaborate with IT experts in NCS to properly harness emerging technologies for national development.

As an advocacy group that promotes IT development across the country, NCS also called on financial institutions in the country to collaborate with it to address the continuous rise in cyber attacks that have constantly hit banks in recent times.

President of NCS, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, made the call in Lagos on Tuesday, during a press conference organised by NCS to address the state of the nation.

While commending the federal government for giving directives to the Central Bank of Nigeria to withdraw the proposed 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy, Aliyu said the idea to protect the cyberspace was necessary. He however said the timing was wrong and that there could be other better ways to generate revenue to address cyber threats without putting too much burden on the people. “A situation where the federal government imposes levy on the citizens and reverses it after public outcry, does not speak well of the government. This is the reason why collaboration with NCS is necessary to enable NCS members to properly advise government on things about technology and how to maximise technology for national development. There is need for wider consultation with all relevant stakeholders to drive national development,” Aliyu said.

Vice President of NCS, Dr. Charles Onyeukwu, said government must recognise NCS members and consider them as partners in the discharge of national duties, as they relate to technology development. “NCS has experts in all fields of Information Technology and government should be able to tap from the wealth of such expertise. A situation where government sidelines registered IT professionals from NCS while planning and executing technology projects and IT policies for the country, is not a healthy development,” Onyeukwu said.   

Immediate past president of NCS and member of National Executive Council of NCS, Prof Adesina Sodiya, also thanked the federal government for withdrawing the cybersecurity levy, but advised that government must listen and work with NCS members to address the issue of cyber-insecurity in the country. According to him, any attack on critical national infrastructure of the country, will affect all businesses and organisations, which might pose serious threat to national development.   

Aliyu also stressed the need for banks to collaborate with NCS to help protect their investment by protecting the cyber space from incessant attacks. “Recently NCS had a webinar on cybersecurity issues, where solutions were proffered to address the rising rate of cyber attacks. Banks need to collaborate with IT professionals from NCS to identify the strength and weaknesses of their networks and to protect their customers from cyber attacks in better ways,” Aliyu added.
He also commended the federal government for the recent adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), adding that the widespread adoption of AI across various domains of life presents both opportunities and challenges.

“As we embrace AI technologies, it is crucial to prioritise education, skill development, and ethical considerations to maximise the benefits while mitigating potential risks. The NCS Cybersecurity Forum and Workshop scheduled to take place at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja from June 11th to 13th, 2024, will serve as a platform for experts to share their knowledge, discuss best practices, and develop strategies to enhance cybersecurity and adopt strategies that will help government and organisations leverage on AI for development,” Aliyu further said.