No Foreigner Will Practice ICT In Nigeria Without License – CPN

No foreigner will be allowed to practise any of the computer related jobs in Nigeria without first obtaining a license from the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), the professional body has said.

Speaking during a virtual press conference, president and chairman of council of CPN, Mr Kole Jagun said henceforth the professional association would begin enforcement of no license no practice on foreigners.

“It is illegal to engage in computing and professional practice without satisfying the above condition- registration and possession of a current valid license”, Jagun said.

The CPN president said it was mandatory for all persons and organisations seeking to engage, or engaged in the sale or use of computing facilities and the provision of professional services in computing as well as the use of computational machinery and techniques related thereto to be registered by the Council and licensed to carry out such activities.

He added: “As you are all aware, Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria), (CPN) was established through Act No 49 of 1993. The Act was passed into law on 10th of June and gazetted on the 9th of August that year. It is a corporate entity that is charged with the regulation, control and supervision of the computing profession and practice in Nigeria in line with Section 1 (2) of the Act. The Council hereinafter referred to as CPN is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.”

But he said there is no gainsaying that the achievement of good governance needs a functional e-governance.

This is because, he said, adequate use of ICT serves as a catalyst to an effective and efficient service delivery, quick response, accountability and transparency.

According to him, greater use of information and communications technology and e-government will increase governmental transparency, accountability and good Governance.

He said It is for this reason that the 2023 IT Professionals’ Assembly, the annual conference of the professional association,  shall be considering  as its theme, “e-Government for Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance” next week.

He said the Keynote would be delivered by Minister for Communications & Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.