PART ONE. The Terms of Reference (TOR) of NSPC are:

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PART ONE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) set up the National Software Policy Committee (NSPC) with members drawn from a broad spectrum of stakeholders to develop and draft a National Software Policy (NSP) as a blueprint aimed at providing a roadmap to make Nigeria a competitive country in the area of software engineering and development. The NSPC was inaugurated by Prof. Cleopas O. Angaye, the Director General of NITDA on December 6, 2010. This document represents the final submission of the Drafting Committee, after the public presentation and feedback from Nigerian ICT Stakeholders.

This document is organized in three parts. Part One is the Executive Summary. Part Two presents the objectives of the National Software Policy and the indicators of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the software sector of Nigerian economy. Part Three presents the National Software Policy with emphasis on the policy statement, policy objectives and policy strategies of software human capital; infrastructure; fiscal policy; industry economics; Legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks; national development strategy; and research, innovation and development.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) of NSPC are:

1. Design appropriate strategies for National Software Research and Development. 2. Establish strategies for promoting local demand for software products and services. 3. Develop guidelines that ensure the promotion of local software.

4. Ensure that the National Software Policy establishes software development and services as a major vehicle for creating national revenue with direct and significant impacts on the Nigerian economy.

5. Provide incentive mechanisms for Nigerian software developers and investors.

6. Determine the financial requirement to develop world class quality software by Nigerians.

7. Establish modalities and technical guidelines for registering, testing and documenting imported/domestic software products/services and mechanism for operational standards and security for the country.

8. Implement a roadmap for ensuring easy access of Nigerian software products, services and skills in the international market.

9. Any other strategies and practices for developing and sustaining the National Software Policy.

The vision of National Software Policy is:

“Innovative nation, creative minds connected and propelled by Software Capability” The missions of National Software Policy are:

1. Promoting software as one of the topmost Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) for the growth of Nigerian economy.

2. Promoting and facilitating software industry growth with a view to improving the quality and effectiveness of public service delivery, driving transparency and

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accountability in governance and increasing the contribution of software industry to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

3. Improving the standard of living of the people of Nigeria through the use of software in all sectors as a tool to enhance productivity, efficiency and optimum utilization of resources.

4. Establishing National Software Infrastructure to cater for the needs of public administration, trade, commerce, industry, finance, entertainment, media, education, culture, sports and tourism, peace, security and stability.

5. Promoting Nigeria as a hub for the growth of software industry and facilitating flow of investments.

6. Developing human resources as workers for the emerging knowledge economy in Nigeria.

The focal areas of National Software Policy are: 1. Software Human Capital

2. Software Infrastructure. 3. Software Fiscal Policy.

4. Software Industry Economics.

5. Software Legislative, Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks. 6. Software and National Development Strategy.

7. Software Research, Innovation and Development. The National Software Policy Statements

1. Government shall deploy the political will and national resources with the support of the private sector to promote mass development of software human capital that is critical for the growth of the emerging knowledge economy and information society. 2. Government shall promote the conceptualization, design, procurement, deployment,

operation, monitoring, evaluation and maintenance/update of critical infrastructure to drive the software industry in line with global best practices and competitiveness. 3. Government shall recognize the Software Sector as a component of Critical National

Information Infrastructure (CNII) deserving of Pioneer Status and shall promote incentives for software investors, developers and solution providers.

4. Government shall promote and encourage the growth of the economy through software development as a catalyst for national wealth creation and revenue generation.

5. Government shall enact legislative, regulatory and institutional framework that will catalyze the development of software industry and facilitate the growth of knowledge economy in Nigeria.

6. Government shall promote the use of indigenous software in critical and strategic sectors, such as Electoral Processes, Defence, Immigration, Custom, National Security, National Population, National Planning, Public Administration, Culture, Media, Agriculture, Education, Health, Oil & Gas, Finance and Energy.

7. Government and the private sectors shall encourage the advancement of Research, Innovation and Development (RID) in software which is an emerging critical infrastructure for knowledge economy.

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PART T

WO

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON NATIONAL SOFTWARE POLICY 2.1 Introduction

Information Technology (IT) is the world's fastest growing body of knowledge that is transforming resource-based economies to knowledge-based economies. Information services, products and production processes are evolving rapidly. Knowledge engineering is replacing pure data and information oriented engineering. The application and impact of IT is so pervasive that it is affecting issues as diverse as Government operations, balance of payment, skill development, design competence, mass media reach, industrial competitiveness, publication, communication, transportation, health, financial infrastructure, industrial productivity and managerial efficiency. The engine of IT as a global agent of societal transformation in an emerging knowledge economy is software.

Software is a tool for productivity and efficiency capable of leading to better transparency and accountability. This means government and the art of governance can be made highly effective, citizen-friendly and contributing to the standard of living of the people. Software is also an industry with a proven potential to contribute to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Moreover, it is an enabler of transformation with immense cross cutting impact on competitiveness, productivity, transparency and managerial efficiency. Software is the new paradigm shift in the history of human development with immense ability to change the way we live forever. Therefore, it is imperative that Nigeria develops a software policy and strategic plan for its implementation in order to align software resources as a critical asset to national goals and aspirations.

2.2 Vision of National Software Policy

“Innovative nation, creative minds connected and propelled by software capability” 2.3 Missions of National Software Policy

2.3.1 Promoting software as one of the topmost Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) for the growth of Nigerian economy.

2.3.2 Promoting and facilitating software industry growth with a view to improving the quality and effectiveness of public service delivery, driving transparency and accountability in governance and increasing the contribution of software industry to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

2.3.3 Improving the standard of living of the people of Nigeria through the use of software in all sectors as a tool to enhance productivity, efficiency and optimum utilization of resources.

2.3.4 Establishing National Software Infrastructure to cater for the needs of public administration, trade, commerce, industry, finance, entertainment, media, education, culture, sports and tourism.

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2.3.5 Promoting Nigeria as a hub for the growth of software industry and facilitating flow of investments.

2.3.6 Developing human resources as workers for the emerging knowledge economy in Nigeria.

2.4 Objectives of National Software Policy

2.4.1 Develop appropriate strategies for software research, innovation and development.

2.4.2 Develop strategies that stimulate demand for locally developed software products and services.

2.4.3 Ensure that the National Software Policy establishes software development, growth and services as a major vehicle for creating national wealth with direct and significant impact on Nigerian economy.

2.4.4 Provide incentive mechanisms for Nigerian software developers, service providers and investors that will accelerate the growth of the software industry.

2.4.5 Establish modalities and technical guidelines for financing the development of world class software and protection of Nigerian Intellectual Property (IP). 2.4.6 Establish modalities and technical guidelines for registering, testing,

measurement and documenting software products and services in compliance with national operational standards and security.

2.4.7 Implement a roadmap for ensuring easy access of Nigerian software products, services and skills in the international market.

2.4.8 Establish a Ministerial Committee to co-ordinate and direct the implementation strategies of the National Software Policy to achieve rapid penetration and effective use of software in all sectors and promote the use of software in public administration.

2.4.9 Establish a National Institute for Software Research, Innovation and Development.

2.4.10 Ensure the legislation of the National Software Policy.

2.4.11 Provide Critical National Software Infrastructure for the growth of software industry and the national economy.

2.4.12 Promote the study of Software Engineering in educational institutions.

2.4.13 Establish guidelines for the procurement and deployment of basic IT infrastructure to facilitate effective IT-driven teaching, learning, research, innovation and development.

2.4.14 Develop and deploy e-government priority projects for good governance. 2.5 SWOT Analysis of Software Sector in Nigeria.

The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the software sector of Nigeria economy is presented in the table below to highlight the profile of software in Nigeria.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

 Large population with passion for learning.

 Strong entrepreneurial culture and drive.

 Large number of tertiary schools and student

 Lack of national software policy.

 Poor methods of recruitment, development, assessment and evaluation of human resources.

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population.

 Existence of core local and foreign expertise.

 Existence of strong, vibrant, active and experienced home based Nigerian software experts and professionals.

 Existence of a strong, vibrant and active Nigerian in Diaspora willing to collaborate and partner with the public and private sectors on software development.

 Adequate command of English language which is the primary language of instruction in Nigerian schools.

 Available and trainable youths (about 60% under the age of 30) to kick start software development.

 Existence of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act of 2007, empowering it to coordinate and implement the National Software Policy.

 Existence of numerous capacity building programmes funded by multilateral bodies to support the deployment of software solutions, particularly, in public sector.

 Existence of programmes such as

e-Government, e-Business initiatives, e-payment and national personnel and payroll

management information system in the public and private sectors.

 Activities of numerous Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that are focused on women and youth empowerment.

 Adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a strategy for job and wealth creation.

 Existence of shared experiences of developed and some developing countries in the development of software industry.

 Low entry barriers for involvement in software industry.

 Existence of institutional capacity supporting investment, promotion and regulation.

 Existence of the National Outsourcing Policy.

 Lack of fiscal incentives for software investors, developers and solution providers.

 Lack of le gal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for software development.

 Lack of intellectual property rights, law enforcement.

 Inadequate application of the principles and practice of software engineering by software industry.

 Poor integration of IT in education system.

 Lack of standards and quality assurance for software products and services.

 Inadequate linkage, collaboration and partnership of software experts in institutions of higher learning with the industry.

 Lack of engagement by government and private sector in development and commercialization of intellectual properties, innovation and research.

 Lack of coordination and continuity of the numerous capacity building programmes funded by multilateral bodies to provide basic software development skills.

 Inadequate and irregular supply of electricity.

 Inadequate Telecommunications Infrastructure.

 Inadequate performance of telecommunications and Internet service providers.

 Weak attraction of software as an investment option for indigenous venture capital.

 Poor indigenous investment in software development.

 Poor patronage of public and private sectors of indigenous software.

 Inadequate promotion of programmes that are desirable for the acquisition of domain specific knowledge and skills on software services and products.

 Inadequate indigenous research, innovation and development in software development.

 Inadequate testing, measurement and

certification of software professionals, products, services and markets standardization.

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

 Untapped local demand for specific niche markets.

 Cross cutting impact of software industry on other sectors of national economy.

 Growing global demand for innovative software products and services, as well as

 Ineffective and lack of continuity in initiatives such as policy formulation, strategic plans and implementation procedure to nurture local software industry (products and services).

 Indigenous banking environment characterised by a tendency towards high interest rate on loans

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access to markets.

 International interest in emerging economies, improvement of quality of life and poverty alleviation.

 Renewed global focus on human capital development supported by multilateral funds and International Development Partners (IDPs).

 Potential of Nigeria serving as the hub for software products and services in the sub- Saharan Africa in the light of increasing FDI flow to Africa as the next frontier of emerging economies.

 Availability of relatively cheap labour in the country.

 Local demand for indigenous software services and products as the economy digitalises.

 Potential of software engineering as a source of job and wealth creation for youths.

 Emergence of Nigerian software products and services that are capable of competing in the global markets.

and absence of venture capital.

 Absence of regulations on importation of software products and services by both public and private sectors of Nigerian economy.

 A culture of weak linkage between policy formulation and implementation through a lack of continuity in process and domain expertise.

 Piracy and copyright infringement.

 Protectionist policies in foreign software markets.

 Inherent vulnerability of emerging critical national information infrastructure already built largely on foreign products and services.

2.6 Conclusion

Given the existing political and socio-economic status of Nigeria in West Africa and Africa, the fundamentals exist for the emergence of Nigeria as a global competitor in the software market with ancillary beneficial impact of poverty alleviation, gender equality, wealth and job creation in the society. There is evidence that the domestic market for software products and services is huge: the data on increasing activity of global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), penetration of internet connectivity, mobile phone and computer usage, growth of national electronic databases etc, support this. The challenge facing Nigeria is how much of this market opportunity is linked to the emergence of a vibrant local software economy and capability, as opposed to net negative capital flight and job losses to international competition. Thus, while indigenous software is capable of reducing the existing capital flight through foreign software, it also has the capacity to attract tremendous foreign earnings desirable for accelerated growth of Nigerian economy. The National Software Policy is pivotal in answering this question.

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PART

THREE

NATIONAL SOFTWARE POLICY

3.1 Areas of Focus of National Software Policy 3.1.1 Software Human Capital.

3.1.2 Software Infrastructure. 3.1.3 Software Fiscal Policy.

3.1.4 Software Industry Economics.

3.1.5 Software Legislative, Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks. 3.1.6 Software and National Development Strategy.

3.1.7 Software Research, Innovation and Development. 3.2 Policy on Software Human Capital

3.2.1 Policy Statement

Government shall deploy the political will and national resources with the support of the private sector to promote mass development of software human capital that is critical for job creation, entrepreneurship and the overall growth of the emerging knowledge economy.

3.2.2 Policy Objectives

3.2.2.1 Facilitate and promote critical thinking, problem solving, innovation and software enabled services.

3.2.2.2 Promote human capital capacity building with sensitivity to gender and diversity for the development of the software industry.

3.2.2.3 Encourage the provision of knowledge and skilled software trainers at all levels of education including vocational centres.

3.2.2.4 Grow a critical mass of software experts and professionals that meet standards of global competitiveness and excellent practice.

3.2.2.5 Facilitate and promote investment in research, innovation, development and services.

3.2.2.6 Encourage the promotion of professional certification in software development in critical sectors of Nigerian economy.

3.2.2.7 Promote the development of human capital to minimize security threats and protect Critical National Infrastructure.

3.2.3 Policy Strategies

3.2.3.1 Promoting the overall number of entrants into the software development across all school levels with particular regard to gender balance and diversity. Reviewing the existing curricula in schools (primary, secondary and tertiary) to reflect job-market demands in software.

3.2.3.2 Mandating the teaching of computer programming methodology in schools.

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3.2.3.3 Retraining and retooling teaching staff in schools to enhance their competence and proficiency in the principle and practice of software engineering.

3.2.3.4 Providing critical tools and devices in software laboratories in all Nigeria schools.

3.2.3.5 Providing adequate platform for the continuous and mandatory evaluation of the performance of software personnel in schools, public and private sectors.

3.2.3.6 Promoting collaborative teaching, learning, research and practice of software in public administration, academia and industry using Internet connectivity.

3.2.3.7 Establishing advanced Software Incubation Centres and Software Parks in FCT, states and local governments.

3.2.3.8 Establishing IT career structure in public administration at the federal, state and local government levels.

3.2.3.9 Training and retraining technicians in informal sector of software development.

3.2.3.10 Retooling graduates on software development.

3.2.3.11 Retooling traditional staff in the public and private sectors on software sector developments.

3.2.3.12 Ensuring that software development becomes a compulsory component of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) agenda, programme and training/re-training programmes of the Police, State Security Service, Civil Defence, Army, Navy, Air Force, Customs, Immigration, National Security, Presidency, and MDAs.

3.2.3.13 Facilitating and encouraging competitions in schools, collaboration of professional bodies, industry partnership and associations in the field of software development by funding Software Exhibitions, Workshops, Conferences, Seminar and Strategic Roundtables.

3.2.3.14 Facilitating and promoting the establishment of Software Technical Colleges and Institutes by International and Domestic Private Investors.

3.2.3.15 Ensuring that foreign companies operating in the IT sector in Nigeria contribute to human capital development by participation in SIWES and other related internship programmes.

3.3 Policy on Software Infrastructure 3.3.1 Policy Statement

Government shall promote the conceptualization, design, procurement, deployment, operation, monitoring, evaluation and maintenance/update of critical infrastructure to drive the software industry in line with global best practices and competitiveness. 3.3.2 Policy Objectives

3.3.2.1 Prescribe and protect critical infrastructure to enhance the emergence, growth and development of a sustainable software industry.

3.3.2.2 Develop a roadmap for the provision of critical infrastructure to make Nigeria a software hub in West Africa, Africa and the global market.

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3.3.2.3 Recognize and accord high priority to Critical National Software Infrastructure (CNSI) such as electricity, communications and transportation to drive the software industry in Nigeria.

3.3.3.1 Providing adequate budgetary appropriation for the establishment and sustainability of software engineering laboratories in Nigerian educational institutions.

3.3.3.2 Ensuring the provision of functional software infrastructure such as energy (thermal, wind, solar and biomass); telephone (terrestrial, mobile and broadband); fibre optics and Internet connectivity to enhance the development of software industry and promote collaborative teaching and learning (e-learning, distance learning, open- university system, etc.).

3.3.3.3 Ensuring the provision of adequate facilities for harnessing the growth and development of informal sector (Mobile and Computer Villages) in software development.

3.3.3.4 Establishing purpose-built software technology park for especially the development of embedded systems, indigenous software platforms and interfaces.

3.3.3.5 Encouraging the co-existence and cooperation of the emerging software development platforms (proprietary software system and open source software system).

3.3.3.6 Developing adequate procedure and technical guidelines for evaluating the performance of Critical National Software Infrastructure (CNSI). 3.3.3.7 Promoting diverse models for Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

initiatives to develop, nurture and protect Critical National Software Infrastructure.

3.3.3.8 Reviving and repositioning Terrestrial Fixed Line/Dial-up Telephone Infrastructure as backup communications infrastructure for uninterrupted delivery of software services.

3.3.3.9 Co-locating, monitoring and controlling communication infrastructure to minimize cost and ensure quality of service for software development.

3.3.3.10 Enforcing compliance of public sector on existing directive with the procurement of indigenous software products and services through regulation.

3.3.3.11 Ensuring adequate coordination and supervision of the operational capability of existing Public Information Gateways (PIGs).

3.3.3.12 Ensuring the collaboration of the appropriate organs of government towards integrating conventional public library system with electronic library system and establish new ones.

3.3.3.13 Ensuring that annual sector surveys of software human capital and infrastructure in both public and private sectors are carried out for the provision of critical data that would guide sector growth plans.

3.3.3.14 Ensuring that some of the transponders being deployed on NigComSat.R1 is reserved for software development, access, Cloud

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computing and security to accelerate the diffusion of software local contents and solutions.

3.4 Software Fiscal Policy 3.4.1 Policy Statement

Government shall recognize the Software Sector as a component of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) deserving of Pioneer Status and shall promote incentives for software investors, developers and solution providers.

3.4.2.1 Promote the development and sustained growth of an indigenous software industry.

3.4.2.2 Encourage foreign investment in the trade and business of software development in Nigeria with sensitivity to Section 4.4.2.1 above. 3.4.2.3 Promote the development of human capital and infrastructure in

software engineering.

3.4.2.4 Encourage the adoption of software engineering as an attractive career option in public and private sectors.

3.4.2.5 Encourage knowledge acquisition, research, innovation and development in software.

3.4.2.6 Promote the domestic and foreign demand for software products and services from the indigenous software industry.

3.4.3.1 All new and qualified indigenous software development companies shall enjoy a 5-year tax free holiday.

3.4.3.2 Establishing a software venture capital fund to be accessed by software developers through the allocation of substantial percentage of National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDEF).

3.4.3.3 The Industrial Trust Fund shall be made to cover capacity building for software research, innovation and development.

3.4.3.4 All bi-lateral and multi-lateral agreements with Nigeria; especially with South-South emerging economies (UN-MDGs, D8, G77, ACP, BRICS, ECOWAS, etc.) shall be made to include software industry in Nigeria.

3.4.3.5 The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement) shall be exploited to cover the software industry in Nigeria.

3.4.3.6 Government shall ensure the full implementation of ICT4D strategic plan which already has considerable incentive mechanisms for software development.

3.4.3.7 Creation of incentive measures for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in the establishment of Software Parks in the FCT, States and Local Governments of Nigeria.

3.4.3.8 Government shall ensure the protection of Intellectual Property Rights and investment in software development.

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3.4.3.9 Special concessions (duty waivers, subsidies, pioneer status, etc.) shall be accorded software industry by investment and export promotion agencies (SMEDAN, NIPC, NEPC).

3.4.3.10 The public and private sectors shall provide scholarships for candidates running graduate and post-graduate degree programmes in Software Engineering.

3.4.3.11 Software Development Bank shall be established to service software development initiatives and source of finance for software industry in Nigeria.

3.4.3.12 Nigerian Banks shall be made to reserve 5% of their loanable funds to the software industry through the proposed Software Development Bank and other software-specific venture capital or lending organisations.

3.4.3.13 The Export Expansion Grant (EEG) shall be extended to facilitate the accelerated development of the Nigerian Software Industry.

3.4.3.14 Encourage the establishment Export Free Trade Zones to allow software developers to import components and materials free from up-front import tariffs subject to the exportation of software products and services.

3.4.3.15 All public sector procurements of software products and service below the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five hundred million Naira) shall be exclusive to indigenous software development companies in order to promote local content in software products and services.

3.4.3.16 All Software products, services and solution provider companies operating in Nigeria shall show proof of in-country development, permanent sites and be registered by Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN).

3.4.3.17 Mandate NITDA to implement the Software fiscal policy of the National Software Policy.

3.4.3.18 Ensure the development and adoption by relevant bodies such as Bureau for Public Procurement amongst others, of standardised templates for software procurement in the public sector.

3.5 Policy on Software Industry Economics 3.5.1 Policy Statement

Government shall promote and encourage the growth of the economy through software development as a catalyst for national wealth creation and revenue generation.

3.5.2.1 Promote software industry as one of the major source of revenue for the national economy.

3.5.2.2 Provide and support the economic conditions that will enable the creation of a vibrant software industry.

3.5.2.3 Drive the adoption and institutionalization (sector-based) of software innovation-led economy.

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3.5.2.4 Provide guidelines for the articulation of sectoral (defense, national security, education, agriculture, industry, finance, culture, media, sports etc.) software development and relevant legislation such as intellectual property regime which shall enable a software innovation-led economy.

3.5.2.5 Adopt a “user-driven” strategy which is based on the availability of software and its adaptation, dissemination and use tailored to the demands of the domestic economy and society.

3.5.2.6 Promote Nigerian software industry to become the hub of software games and entertainment (sports, music, home video, tourism and other forms of entertainment) in sub-Saharan Africa.

3.5.2.7 Government shall promote the development of indigenous software products and services for domestic, regional and international markets. 3.5.2.8 Government shall consider the development of an appropriate policy

framework for the procurement and deployment of Open Source Software (OSS) solutions in the public sector.

3.5.2.9 Ensure the use of OSS products for interoperability that support open standards and specifications in all IT projects.

3.5.2.10 Providing a platform for advocacy for the development of the business of indigenous software products and services, as well as abuse of use of internet resources.

3.5.3.1 Promoting investment in software industry through public-private partnership initiative.

3.5.3.2 Promoting the collaboration of Nigerian software experts and professionals at home and in the Diaspora.

3.5.3.3 Developing a benchmark for quality assurance of software products and services.

3.5.3.4 Promoting software-based Reverse Engineering and Re-tooling of human capital in Public Service.

3.5.3.5 Promoting and stimulating domestic market for indigenous software. 3.5.3.6 Promoting the acquisition of software technology and stimulating

research, innovation and development.

3.5.3.7 Promoting the use of indigenous software products and services in public sector and other critical sectors of the economy.

3.5.3.8 Encouraging the private sector to subscribe to indigenous software products and services.

3.5.3.9 Providing a procedure for the classification, testing, measurement and certification of software products and services to ensure total adherence to global standards and best practices.

3.5.3.10 Promoting collaborative initiatives amongst identified software investors, developers and solution providers to accelerate the growth of indigenous software products and services.

3.5.3.11 Ensuring that all foreign software companies seeking contracts in Nigeria must have established collaboration with indigenous software firms and tertiary research institution in accordance with the provisions of relevant extant legislation.

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3.5.3.12 Establishing innovation centres that can ably attract available pool of expertise in software engineering.

3.5.3.13 Promoting the establishment of venture capital firms for software development and deployment in culture, media, films, games, arts and sports in Nigeria.

3.5.3.14 Promoting Nigerian software industry as a beneficiary of the global outsourcing market.

3.5.3.15 Encouraging the procurement of Software solutions in a manner that ensures the interoperability of solutions.

3.5.3.16 Encouraging the development of a policy framework around the procurement and deployment of Open Source software solutions. 3.5.3.17 Encouraging the development of an appropriate framework that

ensures MDAs procure Software with interoperability and develop standards to enable data portability.

3.6 Policy on Software Legislative, Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks 3.6.1 Policy Statement

Government shall enact legislative, regulatory and institutional framework that will catalyze the development of software industry and facilitate the growth of knowledge economy in Nigeria.

3.6.2.1 Provide an enabling environment for the growth of software industry in Nigeria.

3.6.2.2 Encourage and protect investment in software products and services (venture capital, loans, grants, intervention funds amongst others). 3.6.2.3 Facilitate the protection of intellectual property rights, law and

enforcement in software products and services.

3.6.2.4 Prescribe guidelines for standards and quality assurance of software products and services that can meets global best practices.

3.6.3.5 Control and reduce the rate of capital flight through importation of foreign software.

3.6.2.6 Legislate the co-existence and cooperation of open source software and proprietary software.

3.6.2.7 Protect Critical National Software Infrastructure (CNSI), human capital and strategic investments in software development.

3.6.3 Policy Strategies

3.6.3.1 Reviewing the existing legislations to reveal gaps and currency with global best practices with a view to developing new legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks for the growth of software industry.

3.6.3.2 Strengthening the existing government investment portfolio with special attention to software development through creation of a initiatives such as Software Development Fund (SDF), Software

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Development Bank (SDB) and Intervention Funds to actively promote software industry.

3.6.3.3 Reviewing Intellectual Property Regimes in Nigeria with a view to providing Acts of Parliament to protect electronic transactions and intellectual property.

3.6.3.4 Legislating the existing Federal Government directive for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to procure “Made in Nigeria” software products and services.

3.6.3.5 Legislating the procurement, deployment, growth and protection of Critical National Software Infrastructures (CNSI), human capital, and investment profiles.

3.6.3.6 Establishing regulatory and institutional frameworks to promote, protect and develop software industry in Nigeria.

3.6.3.7 Promoting executive bill for the enactment of an act for software Nigeria at the of the National Assembly.

3.6.3.8 Reviewing policy framework and legislation periodically. 3.7 Policy on Software and National Development Strategy

3.7.1 Policy Statement

Government shall promote the use of indigenous software in critical and strategic sectors, such as Electoral Processes, Defence, Immigration, Custom, National Security, National Population, National Planning, Public Administration, Culture, Media, Agriculture, Education, Health, Oil & Gas, Finance and Energy.

3.7.2.1 Ensure procurement, deployment and maintenance of indigenous software in strategic and critical sectors.

3.7.3.2 Ensure the adoption of indigenous software as a critical tool for the actualization of the National Vision and related developmental programmes such as Vision2020:20, NEEDS, SEEDS, LEEDs, etc. 3.7.2.3 Promote software capacity (human capital and infrastructure) building

for the adoption and growth of indigenous software in the critical and strategic areas of the economy.

3.7.2.4 Promote Nigeria as a hub for software research, innovation and development in Africa.

3.7.2.5 Promote the establishment of a national Software Emergency Response Team (SERT) for Nigeria.

3.7.3.1 Ensuring the reduction of the cost and risk to government systems by purchasing cost effective indigenous software solutions and vesting the ownership of bespoke and tailored software code with Government. 3.7.3.2 Ensuring competitive number of domestic software firms and promote

demanding domestic and international markets with specialization in service projects and niche product markets, such as logistics, distribution, call centre set-ups, media, entertainment and tourism.

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3.7.3.3 Promoting and facilitating the presence of software development corridor in each state and local government of Nigeria.

3.7.3.4 Promoting and facilitating funds for software development in the critical sectors of Nigeria such as defence, police, immigration, custom, finance institutions, public administration and others.

3.7.3.5 Promoting and facilitating the establishment of National Institute of Software Research, Innovation and Development and domiciliation of the proposed national Software Emergency Response Team (SERT) in the National Institute.

3.7.3.6 Promoting and facilitating the presence of software experts and professional bodies in the board of federal and state parastatals. 3.7.3.7 Promoting human and infrastructure capacity building for the growth

and development of software industry.

3.7.3.8 Applying indigenous software in strategic policy monitoring, evaluation and reporting in public administration.

3.7.3.9 Promoting a hybrid model of software development characterized by national contents and global best practice.

3.7.3.10 Promoting the domiciliation of software companies in Nigeria by foreign investors and legislate the model for running the companies. 3.7.3.11 Enhancing software capacity building in the public sector and

popularize the use of indigenous software.

3.7.3.12 Establishing a National Software Council made up of software professionals drawn from industry, government, and academia at home and in the Diaspora.

3.7.3.13 Ensuring that developers are encouraged to incorporate major Nigerian languages in application software solutions.

3.7.3.14 Creating consistent awareness on the security benefits of applying and using indigenous software products and services.

3.7.3.15 Establishing a National Institute of Software Research, Innovation and Development (NISRID) where the laboratory for classification, testing, measurement and certification of software human capital, infrastructure, products and services shall be domiciled.

3.7.3.16 Promoting user-confidence and trust on indigenous software by legislating their use in all public administration.

3.7.3.17 Promoting the domiciliation and domestication of foreign companies in Nigeria as a measure to accelerate international software standards and global best practice.

3.7.3.18 Creating a standing committee for national software research, innovation and development.

3.7.3.19 Identifying and appointing a National Collaborative Emergency Response Team (NCERT) domiciled in an established National Institute of Software Research, Innovation and Development.

3.8 Policy on Software Research, Innovation and Development 3.8.1 Policy Statement

Government and the private sectors shall encourage the advancement of Research, Innovation and Development (RID) in software which is an emerging critical infrastructure for knowledge economy.

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3.8.2.1 Promote Research, Innovation and Development (RID) driven by national orientation and contents in software engineering that are saleable in local and global software markets.

3.8.2.2 Promote innovations on acquired technologies for developing globally competitive software products and services.

3.8.2.3 Promote collaboration of experts/professionals in software engineering and other domains of national economy.

3.8.2.4 Promote public and private partnership in software development. 3.8.2.5 Promote the development of knowledge based system for appraisal

(testing, measurement and certification), procurement, deployment, management and performance evaluation of software human capital, infrastructure, products, services and markets.

3.8.2.6 Reverse engineering of available national human resource with a focus on mass production of software engineers, developers and solution providers for domestic and global competitiveness.

3.8.2.7 Develop the framework for measurement of the impact of software development on national economy.

3.8.2.8 SWOT analysis of software industry (development, operation and maintenance) for growth and sustainability.

3.8.3.1 Establishment of a National Institute of Software Research, Innovation and Development (NISRID) as a component of NITDA for standards, testing, measurement and certification of software human capital, infrastructure, products and services.

3.8.3.2 Empowering the National Institute of Software Research, Innovation and Development to develop guidelines for the growth of Nigeria software industry.

3.8.3.3 Promoting and facilitating the collaboration of National Institute of Software Research, Innovation and Development with the critical and strategic sectors of Nigerian economy.

3.8.3.4 Establishing a national database of software investors, developers, solution providers, human capital, infrastructure, fiscal incentives, legislation, regulation, products, services and market.

3.8.3.5 Providing global best practice benchmarks for the classification, testing, measurement and certification of software products and services.

3.8.3.6 Monitoring and evaluation of the performance of National Software Policy.

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