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Nigeria’s rating on the corruption index has been on the improving side in the past few years, so also, are the country’s rating in some other areas.
So, recently, many expected to hear the same about cybercrime in Nigeria, Senator Fatai Buhari, the Chairman, Senate Committee on cybercrime, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), refused to paint the issue. He simply described the increase of cybercrime in Nigeria is horrible and not showing signs of abating at all!
He said securing the cyber space has even become more important than before because the Federal Government is already getting set to migrate to e-government to improve delivery of social services.
According to him, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) is part of the e-government structure which is 70 per cent completed.
Senator Buhari however expressed doubt if the technical abilities of the current civil servants in service will run the e-government effectively.
His words: “But it may not work with the present set of people. It may work better with new civil servants. That is why I’ve been pushing for ICT as a compulsory subject for Senior Secondary School (SSS) pulpits. We will catch up in about four years from now.”
The Senator also commended the organisers of the chat, saying that he was glad that online journalists have organised themselves into a group like SWEGOP. According to him, the group, is undoubtedly, a major stakeholder in Nigeria’s ICT development and a major partner to his senate committee.
Speaking earlier, chairman of SWEGOP, Mr. Olayinka Agboola, said the group, made up of upwardly mobile journalists who ply their journalistic trade on the internet using diverse focus, was united with the objective of ensuring balanced reportage, fairness and respect for ethics.