The Pioneer Minister, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM has stated that as a public officer who is accountable to the people, protecting the interest of Nigerians comes first to him in discharging the official responsibilities that comes with the office, stressing that leaving everlasting legacy that would stand the trial of time tops his priority.
The Next Level Honourable Minister made this disclosure while making his remarks during the Budget Defense session of the Ministry to the Joint Senate and House of Reps Committees on Communications, ICT and Cybercrime which was held today at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The Minister said “Before the end of this tenure, we want to leave an everlasting legacy for Nigerians in using ICT for our Economic Development”, adding that “after receiving briefing about the proposed USSD charges, I realized there was no justification for the new tariff, consequently, I directed its immediate suspension”.
The Next Level Prime Mover maintained that any telecom operator that violates the directive would be penalized appropriately, stating that, the vision of the Ministry is to see ICT promoting a Digital Economy and not exploiting Nigerians, underlining that proactiveness is the new watchword of the Ministry under his reign.
Dr Pantami informed the parliamentarians that the wisdom behind initiating the process that led to renaming the Ministry from the Federal Ministry of Communications to Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is to improve revenue generation for Nigeria and create many Digital Jobs for Nigeria in line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration blueprint to lift Nigerians out of poverty.
Pantami expressed delight with the fact that the Contribution of ICT to GDP in Nigeria has surpassed Oil and Gas, highlighting that with good supervision, policies and directions, ICT has the potential to become the cash cow of Nigeria.
