By Lizzy Chirkpi
The House of Representatives has urged the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) to strengthen partnerships with government agencies and private-sector organisations to broaden its funding base and improve the regulation of the country’s information technology sector.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, gave the advice on Wednesday during an oversight visit to the council’s headquarters in Abuja.
Laguda acknowledged the efforts of the CPN Registrar and Chief Executive, Adebayo Adegbiji, to raise the council’s profile, promote international IT standards and curb unprofessional practices in the ICT sector.
He, however, expressed concern that inadequate funding could hamper the council’s ability to discharge its statutory responsibilities, urging its management to explore legitimate alternative sources of revenue.
“You have to go into more synergy and private partnerships. Depending solely on government funding will not be enough,” Laguda said.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration with relevant public institutions and private-sector players to support the council’s regulatory, professional development and capacity-building programmes.
The committee also directed the council to submit detailed records of its internally generated revenue, insurance arrangements and other major expenditures to its secretariat for scrutiny.
Laguda assured the council’s management that the committee would continue to monitor its activities and provide legislative support where necessary.
“We will always carry out oversight functions on you from time to time,” he said.
Earlier, Adegbiji told the lawmakers that the council had faced financial difficulties following a government policy that excluded regulatory councils from agencies eligible for government funding.
He said the situation persisted until President Bola Tinubu’s administration restored the council’s funding through the 2026 Appropriation Act.
According to him, the restoration had enabled the council to expand its activities and strengthen its engagement with government institutions on technology-related matters.
“Our feasibility index has increased, and our engagement with various government agencies has also increased and improved,” Adegbiji said.
He listed the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Bureau of Public Procurement, Nigerian Communications Commission, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, National Board for Technical Education, Office of the National Security Adviser and National Information Technology Development Agency among the institutions engaging the council on technology-related programmes.
Adegbiji said the collaborations had created opportunities for the CPN to contribute its professional expertise to technology-related initiatives across government.
He also highlighted efforts to strengthen technical skills development, commending the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, for approving the development of 10 additional National Occupational Standards for information and communications technology under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
According to him, the approval would expand the range of ICT skills available to Nigerians under the national skills development initiative.
The additional standards are expected to broaden opportunities for skills acquisition and professional development in the technology sector.
The oversight visit highlighted the council’s funding challenges and the need for stronger institutional partnerships to support its expanding regulatory and capacity-building responsibilities.
It also underscored the importance of financial accountability and sustained legislative oversight as the CPN works to promote professional standards and tackle unqualified practice in Nigeria’s ICT sector.