Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a new collaboration that will see them create a platform for the seamless exchange of data and the strengthening of Digital Public infrastructure across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

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The Director-General of NITDA, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa who revealed this during a courtesy visit to the Director General of NIMC, Mrs. Bisoye Coker-Odusote in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital, said the collaboration is significant in promoting digital economy initiatives that will lead to a more efficient and effective service delivery to Nigerians.

“Today, we have agreed to set up a technical working crew to look at how we can harmonies and implement national public key infrastructure, how we can work together to build the Nigerian DPI stack, how we can work together on data exchange platform and to strengthen our enterprise Architecture across MDAs to give a 360 view of all government investments in IT,” he said.

Mr. Kashifu said, “The technical working group will start working immediately and We look forward to getting a final working recommendation from them by the end of May. At the end, we should agree on how the National public key infrastructure, (PKI) should look like, the regulatory frame work for it and how we can start using it to secure digital transactions in Nigeria.”

Commenting on the new collaboration, the Director-General of NIMC, Mrs. Bisoye Coker-Odusote said both organizations recognize the immense value in sharing data and the collaboration is a step towards achieving a more digitally enabled Nigeria.

“The key thing is to adopt the stack technology process in Nigeria through the digital public infrastructure. We want to work together with NITDA to produce the PKI and ensure that it is used locally across the public and private sectors,” she said.

“The collaboration is a welcome idea. It is a strategic move towards achieving a harmonized database in the country. The NIN which is a unique identifier is basically the foundational identity on which the digital public infrastructure sits on. It is important that we harmonize together to advance the course of technology in Nigeria. Working with NITDA in this partnership will chat a new course forward,” she further said.

A trade union in the telecommunication sector, Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has threatened to down tools over anti-workers activities.

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The union, which is mobilising the workers for the industrial action has told them to down tools from April 4, 2024.

The union’s general secretary, Comrade Okonu Abdullahi, who spoke yesterday based his call for the strike on the slavery activities employers have subjected the workers to.

Okonu said another reason for the strike is because of the failed efforts by the union and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to resolve the issues, stressing that “the companies have failed to make themselves available for conciliatory meetings.

“It is in the light of this that the leadership of the union is mobilised for strike. Workers, especially the engineers should down tools as from 12am on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

“This decision has become inevitable because the subcontractors, Reime Group, Allstream Streamenergy Solutions Limited, Uppercrest Limited, Tyllium Nigeria Limited and Specific Tools and Techniques Limited where these workers are working for on projects won by Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited have continued to make life miserable for these workers.

“These workers are working like slaves in their own country with no entitlements commensurate with their efforts paid to them. They are made to work without working hours and risk their lives going to the field in the wee hours of the night without adequate security provided for them.”

He called for immediate recognition of the fundamental right of the employees to freely associate with the Union; recognition of the union as a negotiating body for the employees on workers welfare.

The National University of Singapore launched its artificial intelligence institute on Monday to advance research and the application of AI technologies in education, healthcare, and finance.

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According to a university statement, the new institute would also study ways to safeguard transparency and accountability to address ethical concerns and risks associated with AI.

The institute’s researchers received an external investment of $6 million.

The university would invest an additional $14.8 million for foundational research, policy study, and real-world applications.

The statement added that the institute aimed to collaborate with government agencies and industry to amplify AI capabilities across society.