By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the National Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Framework to prevent costly Information Technology (IT) failures, strengthen cybersecurity and build public trust in digital governance.

The framework, signed by the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi under the authority of the NITDA Act 2007, sets nationwide standards for the design, testing and deployment of software across Federal Government institutions, regulated industries and the wider digital ecosystem.

According to a statement issued by the agency on Wednesday, the framework brings together three regulatory instruments: the National Software Development Guideline, which mandates secure coding and accessibility standards; the National Software Testing Guideline, which establishes pre-deployment performance benchmarks; and the Software Testing Organisations Licensing (STOL) Guideline, which accredits independent Licensed Software Testing Organisations (LSTOs) to certify software before deployment.

“Quality is the foundation of digital trust. With this Framework, every software solution serving Nigerians whether built for government or the private sector will meet clear national standards for security, reliability, and interoperability.

“This is how we modernise government technology and position Nigerian software to compete on the global stage,” Abdullahi said.

He noted that under the new policy, all government software projects must undergo independent third-party testing and obtain official certification before going live, making compliance a mandatory requirement for securing IT Project Clearance.

To manage operational risks, NITDA stated that the framework introduces a tiered classification model that categorises software into Class A for high-risk critical infrastructure, Class B for moderate-risk enterprise platforms and Class C for low-risk internal tools.

High-impact Class A platforms, including core banking switches, identity management systems and power grid controls, would be subject to stringent security standards, deep penetration testing and specialised audits by accredited testing bodies.

The agency said the framework would take full effect in the second quarter of 2027. Before then, NITDA said it would roll out capacity-building programmes and issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) for prospective software testing organisations seeking accreditation.

According to NITDA, the framework would also support indigenous technology firms, generate high-skilled jobs and boost confidence in Made-in-Nigeria software, helping local developers compete in global markets and attract foreign direct investment.