By Emeka Aginam

By the time two regulatory instruments including Scale of Professional Charges for Information Technology Services and control and supervision regulations 2010 for IT practice were presented and approved by the Nigerian IT professionals at the just Computer Processionals Registration Council of Nigeria IT Assembly, it was obvious that it may not be business as usual again for quacks who engage in IT services and practices.

Before now, majority of people have been engaging in IT services and practice without proper registration which the regularity authority frowns at.

The CPN established by Decree No. 49 of 1993, promulgated on June 10, and gazetted on August 9, of the same year is a body corporate with perpetual succession and common seal, a legal entity charged with the control and supervision of the Computing Profession in the country.

However, with the draft copy of Control and Supervisory Regulations 2011 endorsed by the IT assembly at the well attended event, the Council, according to the Director of Legal Services, Abbas Fufore shall be guided by the following principles and considerations subject however to specific control provisions contained in the Act, Regulations and Licence:

*Transparency, fairness and non-discrimination

*The need to ensure high computing professional standards and to improve on those standards

* The need to promote and encourage provision of quality and affordable computing services in alla parts of Nigeria

*The need to control the practice of computing in the country

*The need to promote fair competition and investment in the commuting profession

*Such other principles and considerations as the Council may from time to time consider necessary and in the national interest.

In addition, the Council in exercising its power of control, according to Fufore shall direct that every person, organization or institution practicing computing in Nigeria must register with the Council.

“The Council may determine or revoke the Licence granted to such member where such Licence holder contravenes te provisions of the Act, this regulation or Licence Council” he warned.

In carrying out its supervisory duties and all other functions ancillary thereto, the Council, according to him shall streamline computer training programes in the country and ensure quality as well as compliance with international standard and also ensure qualitative and standardize computer education in Nigeria among others.

Accordingly, the Director of Legal Services of CPN also told the audience at the event that had new inductees that the scale of professional charges as contained in the registration, regulation and control committee of CPN is a framework stipulating fees payable to IT practitioners for services rendered and work done.

The blueprint, according to him is not only for the financial interest of IT practitioners but also for clients and interest groups.

“This framework presents the proposed standard scale of professional charges for IT services offered by the IT professionals in consulting practice either as project consultants or technical participants. It is propped for industry wide implementation for IT services rendered by registered IT Professionals in all IT projects.

“Council Would monitor and ensure that high quality IT Processional services is rendered. For now, there are no stipulate sanctions or penalties for non- compliance with the scale of processional fees. However, Council is desirous of encouraging compliance. In the near future, sanctions may be introduced.

“The scale of professional charges stipulates the minimum scale of fees for all categories of practitioners. The minimum scale rates would be regularly reviewed. Practitioners are expected to charge not less than the fixed amount.

Upward adaptation of the rates should be discussed and agreed between practitioners and clients. Charging below minimum rates would not be acceptable and when discovered, will attract sanctions” he said.

On why there should be sanity in the IT practice and services, he said that, “What we are saying here is that there has to be standard in the IT Practice.

Those who are not fully registered will not be allowed to engage in any IT services or projects. Gone are days when quacks will be allowed to executive IT services in the country.

“We cannot continue like this. Every IT professional must be guided by the two regulatory instruments failure will attract some kind of sanction. There has to be enforcement. There has to be compliance. This is a new dawn in IT industry. Let us be guided accordingly”he said.

Meanwhile, the CPN registrar/ Secretary to the Council Shehu S.A had earlier told IT Journalists in a press conference heralding the IT Assembly that enough was enough for quacks who engage in IT practice and service.

“Enforcement would be carried in full force after the formal presentation of instrument of control and enforcement w by the IT body.

“The Act 49 of 1993, referred to above, makes it mandatory for all persons and organizations 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.

“ It is illegal to engage in computing and professional practice without satisfying the above condition_ registration and possession of a current valid licence.

“We will carry out enforcement at the end of the month. We will swing into action once instrument of enforcement is approved. This will take effect after the formal presentation of the Scale of Professional Charges and the Control & Supervisory Regulations for the Information Technology (IT) profession at the IT Assembly after which we will go into action.

“Unfortunately, the IT industry is still an open market. We have a lot quacks in the IT profession. We are moving forward to stamp out.